The Rwanda Peace Academy (RPA) based in the country’s Musanze District in the Northern Province has signed an agreement with the Eastern African Standby Force Coordination Mechanism (EASCFCOM) to strengthen training for its force.

A Memorandum of Understanding signed on Friday between the two institutions stipulates that RPA will conduct demand-driven training for capacity building of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF).

According to EASCFCOM’s Director, Major General (Rtd) Cyrille Ndayirukiye, the memorandum had been signed following previous trainings conducted by the RPA for the EASCFOM, especially in peace keeping operations.

"We have good cooperation with the Rwanda Peace Academy, especially in training to enhance skills in peace, support operations and regional wars. Member countries of the EASCFCOM need to support each other in order to become a strong region. We can also support the African Union in case of conflicts and wars,” Ndayirukiye said.The officer said that Rwanda has an experienced army that is also at the forefront of peace keeping operations in Africa.

"The trainings offered by the Rwanda Peace Academy can make a difference in terms of high strategic level and operational levels because Rwanda can show the difference in both,” he added.

The Director of the Rwanda Peace Academy, Col Jill Rutaremara, said the agreement signed with EASCFOM will boost the cooperation and mutual support between the two parties.

"The Rwanda Peace Academy will keep providing quality training to the region’s human resource that will be significant in order to strengthen Eastern African Standby Force. This means that we need to work harmoniously to reach a common goal; we will need EASCFOM to support the academy in terms of financial support or any other needed support,” he said.