Military personnel from 26 countries around the globe on Wednesday started drills meant to help them improve their ability to work together during peacekeeping operations.

Dubbed as the Shared Accord, the annual joint military exercise that brings together US forces and partner nations.

The exercise is being conducted by the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), the United States military, several African nations, the European Union and other international organisations, from Wednesday till end month.

The opening ceremony was held at the RDF Combat Training Centre, Gabiro.

The exercise will be conducted along with a related Command Post Exercise (CPX) at Rwanda Military Academy-Gako and a Medical Readiness Exercise (MEDREX) at Rwanda Military Hospital in Kanombe.

This is the second time this exercise is being conducted in Rwanda after the successful Exercise Shared Accord 18 that took place in August last year.

Participants are from Belgium, Botswana, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, USA, Eswatini, Italy, Lesotho and Zambia.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com