A team of Rwandan students were recently awarded with certificates of excellence in International Law during a regional competition organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

During a week-long event that took place in Arusha, Tanzania, the three students who are all from the National University of Rwanda (UNR) were recognized after emerging as semi-finalists in the competition that brought together students from 14 regional universities.

The competition which is dubbed ‘the regional moot court competition’ took place for the 8th time and it is organised to spread the knowledge and promote careers in International Humanitarian law in the region.

"I was so encouraged by the trip, the competition was inspirational, especially since we study humanitarian law in class… we got time to put into practice what we study in theory as it was part of the competition and most interestingly, we had a chance to share with others,” said Lydia Munganyinka, one of the students.

According to ICRC, thirty three-student teams from 14 universities representing nine English-speaking African countries – Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe – took part in the competition.

Valery Mbaoh Nana, a communications delegate of ICRC-Rwanda said that the performance by the Rwandan students shows a lot of improvement since Rwanda had been participating but not receiving any awards.

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