Botswana: Rwanda, Botswana Seek to Deepen Defence Cooperation

What the report says

Rwanda and Botswana are moving to widen military training and professional development exchanges between their armed forces, according to The New Times, which said the effort is part of a broader push to deepen bilateral defence cooperation. The discussion took place on Wednesday, September 2, when Rwanda Defence Force Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Mubarakh Muganga hosted Botswana Defence Force Commander Gen. Mpho Churchill Mophuting at RDF headquarters in Kimihurura, Kigali.

The Botswana commander was in Rwanda for the 2026 annual meetings of the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group, held in Kigali from August 31 to September 5. During the meeting, the two military leaders reviewed progress in defence ties and explored ways to expand collaboration, especially through exchanges that allow officers to train and learn from each other’s institutions and operations.

The report said Muganga welcomed the existing cooperation and pointed to the value of professional exposure gained through these exchanges. Rwanda is also seeking to involve Botswana officers in its National Defence University Rwanda, including the National Defence College Rwanda, which began programmes this year. The development reflects growing military and diplomatic engagement between the two countries and adds to other recent steps in their broader relationship, although the article did not detail any new formal agreement signed on this occasion.