Rwanda, South Sudan seek defence cooperation

Rwanda and South Sudan are looking to build stronger defense ties.

Visiting South Sudan Defence Chief Gen. James Hoth Mai who is here for a five-day visit said this after meeting with Rwanda’s Chief of Defence Staff General Patrick Nyanvumba at the Defence ministry headquarters in Kigali.

“We are here to discuss co-operation in areas like training and information sharing on military related issues,” Gen. Mai told journalists.

According to the Defence and Military spokesperson, Brig Gen. Joseph Nzabamwita, the visit follows an invitation from Gen. Nyanvumba.

“This visit aims at cultivating relations on the military level and this builds on the political one that already exists,” Nzabamwita said.

“We already have a huge peace keeping force in South Sudan and a number of their students have sought training in our military training academies before, so his visit cements an already strong working relation.”

Gen. Mai also paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Defence James Kabarebe, before visiting Kigali Genocide Memorial centre to pay homage to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) Chief of Generals staff and his delegation are expected to tour other military-affiliated institutions  like Rwanda Military Hospital-Kanombe, Zigama CSS bank and RDF Combat Training Centre – Gabiro, among  others.

Rwanda, South Sudan seek defence cooperation