The Japanese ambassador to Rwanda has commended the Musanze-based Rwanda Peace Academy (RPA) for its role in enhancing human resource in peace keeping operations.Amb. Kazuwa Ogawa said the academy will help improve peace on the continent and around the world.He made the remarks on Monday during the opening of a ten-day “Peace Support Operations (PSO) Foundation Course” at the RPA, a training course for civilians from different countries.Japan, through its embassy in Rwanda, supported the construction of the academy, which Ogawa said was a worthwhile investment.Using Rwanda’s experience“Japan is appreciative of the continuous efforts to maintain peace and security in the region. I am sure Rwanda Peace Academy will play a vital role in development of the regional and sub-regional capacity for conflict prevention, management, resolution, post-conflict recovery and peace building, by drawing on Rwanda’s extensive experience in peace building and international best practices,” said Amb. Ogawa.Twenty-three civilians from Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda are participating.According to Brig Gen. Norbert Kalimba, the Head of Peace Security Operations in Rwanda Defence Forces, the course is relevant in the context of Great Lakes RegionCol Jill Rutaremara, director of Rwanda Peace Academy said the aim of the course is to introduce civilian participants to methods and concepts of contemporary PSO, in preparation for possible deployment in peacekeeping missions in the region and beyond.
