The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, and the Chief of Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), Major General Vincent Nyakarundi, have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening military cooperation and advancing African-led responses to the continent’s security challenges.
The commitment was made at a dinner hosted by the RDF in honour of the Nigerian delegation, marking the end of Lieutenant General Shaibu’s five-day working visit to Rwanda.
Lieutenant General Shaibu said the growing threats posed by terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime and the proliferation of illicit arms required stronger military partnerships, greater intelligence cooperation and coordinated African responses.
He said Nigeria’s experience in counterterrorism, counterinsurgency and joint operations, combined with Rwanda’s expertise in peace support operations, military professionalism and post-conflict reconstruction, provided a strong basis for cooperation.
Priority areas, he said, included specialised military training, professional exchanges, joint exercises, intelligence sharing, cybersecurity, army aviation, defence innovation and the development of indigenous military technology.
Lieutenant General Shaibu also highlighted the potential of emerging technologies—including unmanned systems, advanced surveillance capabilities and artificial intelligence—to improve operational effectiveness and reduce Africa’s reliance on external defence solutions. He said sustained cooperation and the development of local capacity were essential to lasting peace, regional stability and strategic self-reliance.
Major General Nyakarundi commended the visit, describing it as an important step towards strengthening the longstanding military relationship between the two countries. He said he was confident the discussions would lead to practical cooperation, improved interoperability and lasting institutional partnerships.
Both military leaders pledged to turn the outcomes of the visit into concrete initiatives to strengthen the operational readiness of their respective armies and advance security across Africa.
The engagement highlights the role of military diplomacy and strategic partnerships in promoting African ownership of solutions to the continent’s security challenges.
