Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College students in Nyakinama, Musanze District on January 12 celebrated the eleventh Cultural Day as they showcased course participating countries’ cultures by exhibiting different cuisines, clothing, and dance, among others.

The event was organised by 49 senior military officers from 11 African countries who are currently attending the Senior Command and Staff Course intake 12 as part of the spirit of military cooperation and solidarity between the people in uniform which contributes to mutual support, teamwork and good collaboration among students.

The RDFCSC Commandant, Brig Gen Andrew Nyamvumba who presided over the ceremony on behalf of the CDS, said: "The culture day was chosen by the College because of the value that is attributed to the culture of every country. It is also about the significance of culture and the sharing of ideas and knowledge.

"The core mission of the College is to share knowledge and build human capacity including the cultural component. Let's all agree that it is difficult to collaborate or remain a group without fundamental awareness of our respective cultures.”

The student's representative, Col Pascal Munyankindi, said: "The celebration of cultural diversity is not simply about displaying our differences; it is about recognizing the strength that lies within these differences. Each tradition, each story, and each belief system, contributes to the mosaic of human experience. Our willingness to learn from one another, to embrace diversity as a source of strength, is what makes us stronger, more adaptable and ultimately more effective in our roles as military leaders.”

Countries represented at the RDFCSC this academic year are Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and hosts Rwanda.