Ethiopian institute to partner with Rwanda Peace Academy

The Director of Ethiopian Institute for Peace and Security Studies, Mulugeta Gebrehiwot accompanied by Education and Training leader, Simon Akindes are here in Rwanda to explore areas of collaboration with Rwanda Peace Academy.

They paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Defence, Gen James Kabarebe and discussed on the matter of partnership on October 4, 2013.

Mulugeta said that ” We are looking into signing an MOU between the two institutes “and added that they are focusing on partnership in training.’’

“We can exchange staffs, students, make joint research and joint projects,” Mulugeta said.

At Minister’s office they were accompanied by the Director of Rwanda Peace Academy, Col Jil Rutaremara.

In March 2010, Rwanda and Ethiopia signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen defence and military cooperation when Ethiopia’s Minister of Defence and its Chief of Staff visited Rwanda.

The then, Rwandan Minister of Defence, General Marcel Gatsinzi said Rwanda and Ethiopia shared a long history of cooperation in defence and the new bilateral deal would cement their strong relationship.

As Ethiopia’s Defence Minister, Ato Siraj Fegesa, noted Ethiopia was the first country to respond to the 1994 genocide and to call upon the international community to take action.

Military cooperation has largely been in the areas of education and training together with joint activity in international peacekeeping operations.

The diplomatic and political relationship of Ethiopia and Rwanda remains excellent. Both, of course, are members of the United Nations, the African Union, the African Development Bank and COMESA. They continue to cooperate closely with each other on a bilateral level, and in multilateral forums.

Ethiopian institute to partner with Rwanda Peace Academy