MUSANZE - 36 military officers from the East African member states, yesterday, started an international military course on ethics and law of armed conflict, at the Rwanda Military Academy-Nyakinama. 

The course which was organized by Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), in partnership with the Dutch government, will be jointly conducted by instructors from the Netherlands Defence Academy in The Hague, and an RDF officer.  

While opening the course, Army Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Charles Kayonga, said that the course will guide and govern military operations during armed conflicts, while dealing with the civilian population. 

"Ethics are standards to which we should abide by because they are based on values, and these should guide and develop us into the force we should be,” Kayonga said.  

The course which is attended by military officers at the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel, Major and Captain will run for two weeks.  

Kayonga said that the law of armed conflicts emanates from the desire to prevent unnecessary suffering and destruction, at the same time regulate the conduct of armed hostilities with the aim of protecting civilians, prisoners of war, the wounded and the sick.  

The Dutch Ambassador to Rwanda, Frans Makken, commended the RDF for pursuing the line of building capacity in areas of promoting international humanitarian law. 

The Nyakinama academy which is based in the Northern Province, serves as the RDF’s centre for advanced training in military and peace support studies.

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