Rwanda: Rwanda, China Highlight Growing Military Cooperation

What the report says

AllAfrica, carrying a report by The New Times of Kigali, reported that senior Rwandan and Chinese military officials used an event in Kigali to underline expanding defence cooperation between the two countries. The remarks came during celebrations on Thursday, July 22, marking the 99th anniversary of the founding of China’s People’s Liberation Army.

Maj. Gen. Alex Kagame, Chief of Staff of the Reserve Force in the Rwanda Defence Force, said the relationship with the Chinese military had helped Rwanda’s defence capacity, especially through professional military education and specialised training. He linked such cooperation to the need for armed forces to respond to increasingly complex security challenges and said Rwanda wanted to continue working with China on shared security objectives.

Capt. (Navy) Li Dayi, the Chinese Embassy’s defence attaché, described Rwanda as a significant partner in China’s defence engagement in Africa, according to the report. He said cooperation had grown in defence institution-building, military exchanges and personnel training, and indicated that Beijing was prepared to broaden practical collaboration with Rwanda and other African countries in areas including training and regional security coordination.

The New Times reported that more than 300 Rwandan military personnel have graduated from Chinese military institutions over the past decade, while 25 RDF officers received scholarships for specialised study in China, including strategic studies, engineering, military science and air defence. The article also noted that President Paul Kagame met in August 2024 with Lt. Gen. Huang Xucong of the PLA’s Central Theater Command to discuss strengthening military ties. The report places the defence relationship within wider Rwanda-China links across infrastructure, trade, health and education.