Musanze on 24 July 2022

Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College officially opened the one-year Senior Command and Staff Course, intake eleven (SCSC)11. The course that includes 4 female officers comprises 28 Rwanda Defence Force officers, 2 Rwanda National Police officers and 18 allied officers of the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel and Major, making a total of 48 students. SCSC 11 students come from 11 countries, namely: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

On behalf of the RDF Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief Instructor of the College, Lt Col DB Mutayomba, welcomed and congratulated the selected officers, stressing the importance of such a prestigious career course.

For a period of 46 weeks, the college faculty, support staff and indeed SCSC 11 students will vigorously endeavour to achieve the course main objective: “To develop a mind that is flexible, able to conceptualize and analyze security problems in a military perspective, so as to make timely and rational decisions in the contemporary volatile and complex operating environment”. And the end product would be ‘officers with the requisite analytical and communication skills as well as a professional military knowledge in command and leadership at operational level and beyond’.

The official course opening was preceded by a week-long familiarization programme, including acquaintance to the college infrastructure and facilities, but also a familiarization tour of the region for the allied students and DS.

Tour of the college infrastructure and facilities

The tour involved visiting Cyanika and Rubavu border posts and Kinigi touristic areas.