Nigeria and Rwanda's Army Chiefs Forge Defence Ties

During an official dinner in Kigali, Rwanda, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, and Rwanda’s Army Chief of Staff, Major General Vincent Nyakarundi, committed to strengthening defence cooperation to enhance African security. This meeting concluded a five-day working visit by the Nigerian delegation.

Both leaders emphasized the necessity for coordinated regional strategies to combat transnational threats, including terrorism and arms proliferation. Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, reported that Shaibu identified key areas for collaboration, such as specialized military training, professional cadet exchanges, intelligence sharing, joint exercises, cybersecurity, army aviation, and defence technology innovation.

He urged African armed forces to adopt emerging technologies to improve operational effectiveness and reduce dependence on external defence providers. Nyakarundi noted the importance of translating strategic discussions into practical military cooperation to address evolving security threats, highlighting the commitment of both nations to enhance defence ties and regional security.