The Nigerian Army has announced that Nigeria and Rwanda intend to strengthen their bilateral military cooperation, particularly in the fight against terrorism, intelligence sharing, and the development of African defense capabilities. The announcement follows a five-day working visit by the Chief of Army Staff to Rwanda.
According to a Nigerian Army statement, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu was received on Thursday, October 22, 2026, in Kigali by Rwandan President Paul Kagame. The meeting was part of efforts to consolidate defense relations between the two countries and promote African responses to security threats.
During the meeting, the Nigerian Chief of Army Staff praised Rwanda’s transformation since the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. He highlighted the lessons of that experience in national reconstruction, institutional resilience, and social cohesion. He also expressed compassion for the victims and paid tribute to the courage and sacrifices of members of the 3rd Battalion.
The visit also included talks with Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence, and the Chief of Staff of the Rwandan Army, General Vincent Nyakarundi. Discussions focused on training, research, knowledge transfer, and partnerships in the manufacture of defense equipment, with the aim of strengthening local production, equipment maintenance, and national technological capabilities.
At a dinner hosted by the Rwandan Defence Force in honor of the Nigerian delegation, the two chiefs of staff reaffirmed their commitment to deepening military relations. Waidi Shaibu stressed that the growing complexity of terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organized crime, and the proliferation of illicit weapons required greater cooperation among African armies.
He highlighted the complementarity of the two countries: Nigeria has experience in counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, and joint operations, while Rwanda has expertise in peace support operations, military professionalism, and post-conflict reconstruction.
Priority areas identified include specialized training, professional exchanges, joint exercises, intelligence sharing, cybersecurity, military aviation, and innovation in the defense sector. Both parties also intend to strengthen cooperation in emerging technologies, including unmanned systems, advanced surveillance, and artificial intelligence, in order to improve operational effectiveness and reduce dependence on external defense solutions.
Vincent Nyakarundi welcomed the visit, describing it as an important step in strengthening military relations between the two countries. He expressed confidence that the exchanges would be translated into operational initiatives, better interoperability between forces, and lasting institutional partnerships.
Both officials committed to turning the conclusions of the visit into concrete actions to strengthen the operational readiness of their armies and contribute to the collective security of the continent.
The initiative reflects the two countries’ stated desire to prioritize cooperation based on mutual trust, the development of national military capabilities, and shared responsibility in the face of cross-border threats, with a view to consolidating regional peace and stability.
