Musanze - 22 August 2023

Yesterday, Lt Gen (Rtd) Balla Keïta visited the Rwanda Peace Academy (RPA). Lt Gen (Rtd) Keïta served as the Army Chief of Staff and Inspector General of the Senegalese Armed Forces from 2011 to 2015. Before his retirement from Army, Keita served as the Force Commander for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) from 2016 to 2020. Before working as the Force Commander, he served as the Deputy Force Commander of the United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) from 2013 to 2015.

In unrelated occasion, Lt Gen (Rtd) Keita was joined by Lt Gen (Rtd) Romeo Dallaire, a Canadian retired general who led the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) prior and during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. He is also the founder of the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security. The RPA works closely with the Kigali based Dallaire Institute for Children Peace and Security - African Centre of Excellence in training security sector actors in the prevention of use and recruitment of child soldiers.

The Director of the Rwanda Peace Academy, Col (Rtd) Jill Rutaremara briefed both generals on the programmes and activities of the RPA. Thereafter, the generals shared some insights on the nature and challenges of contemporary peace missions with 24 military officers from 8 Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) member states, who are currently attending the African Union Military Experts on Mission (AUMEOM) Course at the RPA.

Lt Gen (Rtd) Romeo Dallaire gives a lecture to the EASF military officers who are currently attending the African Union Military Experts on Mission Course at the RPA.