Two Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) officer cadets on Wednesday, January 27, graduated as pilots from Al Zaeem Air College in Qatar. Second Lieutenants Eloge Nyiringango and Josia Rugema were part of the overall 85 graduates composed of 71 pilots and 14 support specialists from Qatar, Kuwait and Rwanda. According to a statement by RDF, all graduates have spent three years of theoretical and practical training using the latest technology and successfully completed the requirements for obtaining a Bachelors degree in aeronautics. The graduation ceremony was presided over by the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, a number of ministers and other high ranking officials of Qatar Defence Forces. RDF was represented by Maj. Gen. Innocent Kabandana, the Commandant of Rwanda Military Academy Gako and Lt Col Dany Gatsinzi, Chief of Operations of Rwanda Air Force. Addressing the 8th batch of graduates on Wednesday, the Acting Commander of the College, Abdullah Mubarak al-Mohannadi said that the officers were equipped with all the capabilities over the years of study to qualify them and refine their military and academic personalities. According to the statement, al-Mohannadi also underscored that the graduates have a task “to consolidate their lofty values so that they would be role models in all service and duty positions.” Currently, Rwanda and Qatar are cooperating in different aspects that include security and air travel among others. Last year, a delegation of Qatar Armed Forces led by the Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Ghanim bin Shaheen al-Ghanim, was in Rwanda on a two-day visit that, according to the Ministry of Defense, sought to explore and strengthen areas of mutual defence and military cooperation. Concerning air travel, in 2019, Qatar Airways and the government of Rwanda signed three agreements that saw the two parties set up a joint venture to build, own, and operate the proposed international airport in Bugesera District.
