GAKO, Rwanda — The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) has graduated 146 officers and other ranks following seven weeks of intensive Military Police training conducted in cooperation with the Qatar Armed Forces, marking another step in the expanding defence partnership between Rwanda and Qatar.
The graduation ceremony, held at the Rwanda Military Academy in Gako on August 12, 2026, was presided over by RDF Chief of Defence Staff Gen. MK Mubarakh. Qatar’s Ambassador to Rwanda, Mansoor Ali Al-Hajri, joined senior officials from the Qatar Armed Forces, RDF generals and other senior military officers at the ceremony.
According to Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence, the seven-week program provided specialized instruction in several areas central to Military Police operations. The curriculum included VIP protection, counter-terrorism, operations in built-up environments and responses to riots, with the broader objective of strengthening the professional and operational capabilities of participating personnel.
Addressing the graduates in a message delivered on behalf of the RDF Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Mubarakh congratulated them for completing the program and recognized the discipline, commitment and sustained effort demonstrated throughout the training. He encouraged the graduates to put their newly acquired knowledge into practice and transfer relevant skills to colleagues serving in their respective formations.
The Chief of Defence Staff said the training had strengthened the professionalism and operational capacity of the RDF Military Police. He also recognized the contribution of instructors from the Qatar Armed Forces and emphasized the value of maintaining cooperation between the two countries’ military institutions.
Gen. Mubarakh described the completion of the course as another milestone in the developing relationship between the RDF and Qatar Armed Forces. Rwanda, he indicated, remains committed to expanding that partnership through military training, professional exchanges and other areas of shared interest.
The Qatar Armed Forces representative similarly expressed appreciation to the RDF leadership for facilitating the training program and highlighted the cooperation between the two forces as an important factor in its successful completion. The latest course builds on previous joint training initiatives between Rwanda and Qatar. In August 2024, for example, 100 RDF Military Police personnel completed a six-week program conducted with Qatar Armed Forces personnel at the same military academy, focusing on counter-terrorism, VIP protection and anti-riot operations.
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The continuing training relationship reflects a broader emphasis by both countries on professional military development and the exchange of specialized expertise. For Rwanda, the latest graduation adds another group of trained Military Police personnel prepared to apply specialized security skills while contributing to the institutional development and operational readiness of the RDF.
