The Battlegroup Commanders in Peace Support Operations Training of Trainers Course commenced today, Monday, 8 September, at the Rwanda Peace Academy (RPA) in Musanze and will conclude on 19 September 2025. The course was funded by the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and is organized in partnership between the Rwanda Peace Academy and the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) Secretariat.

The Head of Defence Public Affairs Department and Defence  Spokesperson, Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga, officially opened the two-week course that will be attended by seventeen (17) senior military officers from Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, as well as the EASF Headquarters.

Present at the opening ceremony were the Director of the Rwanda Peace Academy, Col (Rtd) Jill Rutaremara; the Coordinator of the International Advisory and Coordination Staff (IACS), Mr Kenneth Goren Albret; the course lead facilitator, Col Erick Libese Lovega; co-facilitators; the J5/J7 of EASF, who is also the Course Project Officer, Col Zelalem Bayih Kidanemariam; and the Course Administrator from the EASF Secretariat, Ms Fridah Motanya.

The course is designed to build a pool of knowledgeable and skilled trainers responsible for preparing battle commanders in Peace Support Operations. In addition to the course, the participants and facilitators will visit Kigali Genocide Memorial and the Campaign Against Genocide Museum in Kigali over the weekend.