Nigeria and Rwanda have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening military cooperation, enhancing defence capabilities and promoting African-led solutions to the continent’s security challenges.
The commitment followed a five-day working visit to Rwanda by Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, which featured engagements with President Paul Kagame and senior Rwandan defence officials.
During a meeting with Kagame in Kigali on Thursday, 22 October 2026, Shaibu conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s goodwill and commended Rwanda’s progress in national reconstruction, institutional resilience and social cohesion since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
He said the growing threats of terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime and illicit arms proliferation required stronger military partnerships, intelligence sharing and coordinated African responses.
Shaibu highlighted opportunities to combine Nigeria’s experience in counterterrorism, counterinsurgency and joint operations with Rwanda’s expertise in peace support operations and post-conflict reconstruction.
Discussions with Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and Army Chief of Staff, Major General Vincent Nyakarundi, identified specialised training, professional exchanges, joint exercises, intelligence sharing, cybersecurity, army aviation and defence technology as priority areas.
The COAS also stressed the importance of unmanned systems, advanced surveillance and artificial intelligence in improving operational effectiveness and reducing dependence on external defence solutions.
During a visit to the Rwandan Engineering Manufacturing Company (REMCO), Shaibu expressed interest in technical exchanges, collaborative research and defence manufacturing partnerships to strengthen Nigeria’s indigenous production and equipment maintenance capabilities.
At a dinner hosted by the Rwanda Defence Force to conclude the visit, Nyakarundi described the engagements as a significant step towards consolidating bilateral military relations, expressing confidence that they would deliver practical cooperation and improved interoperability.
Both sides pledged to translate the outcomes into concrete initiatives to enhance military readiness, strengthen defence capabilities and advance collective security across Africa.
The visit underscores both countries’ commitment to military diplomacy, indigenous defence development and African-led responses to regional security challenges.
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