Rwanda Trains 545 New Central African Soldiers, Deepening Strategic Military Partnership
A fresh cohort of 545 soldiers has officially joined the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) following an intensive six-month training program conducted by the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), marking a significant milestone in the growing military cooperation between the two nations.
Central African President Prof. Faustin Archange Touadéra presided over the ceremony
Graduation Ceremony Highlights Bilateral Ties
The graduation ceremony, held on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at the Camp Kassai military facility in Bangui, was attended by high-ranking officials from both countries, underscoring the partnership’s strategic importance. The Commander of the Rwanda Ground Forces, Maj Gen Vincent Nyakarundi, was present alongside Central African military leadership.
In a significant expansion of the program’s impact, the event also saw the graduation of 121 Non-Commissioned Officers who completed a specialized six-month leadership course, also facilitated by RDF instructors.
A Deepening Security Partnership
Gen Victor Yacoub, the Chief of Staff of the FACA, publicly lauded the robust cooperation between Rwanda and the Central African Republic, particularly in the critical domain of military capacity building. He revealed that to date, the RDF has now trained a total of 2,409 new recruits and 300 Non-Commissioned Officers for the FACA.
Gen Yacoub also commended the new graduates for the discipline and professionalism they demonstrated throughout their training, qualities essential for the stabilization efforts within the country.
Strategic Context and Regional Implications
This training initiative is not an isolated event but a key component of Rwanda’s broader engagement in the Central African Republic. Rwanda has been a significant security partner in the CAR since 2020, contributing troops to a bilateral arrangement and to the UN peacekeeping mission, MINUSCA. This military training program serves a dual purpose: it directly strengthens the capacity of the national army while simultaneously reinforcing the strategic and diplomatic ties between Kigali and Bangui.
For the FACA, bolstering its ranks with well-trained, professional soldiers is a critical step toward asserting state authority over territory contested by numerous armed groups. The integration of these new units could play a pivotal role in the CAR government’s long-term strategy to reduce its dependency on foreign military forces and private military contractors.
Charge to the Graduates
Addressing the newly graduated soldiers, Maj Gen Nyakarundi emphasized the responsibilities that come with their training. He instructed them to lead by example, perform their duties with excellence, professionalism, and integrity, and to serve as capable advisors to their superiors.
He also extended gratitude to the leadership of both Rwanda and the Central African Republic for their sustained support of the military training program, highlighting the high-level political will driving this cooperation.
Demonstration of Acquired Skills
The graduation event was not merely ceremonial. It featured a practical display of the skills acquired during the six-month program, including tactical field exercises, marksmanship, and military map reading, providing a tangible demonstration of the enhanced capabilities being injected into the FACA.
This report is based on information originally published by Kigali Today.