Rwanda | Ivorian Chief of Staff visits Rwanda

The Chief of General Staff of the Ivory Coast Republican Forces, Maj Gen Soumaila Bakayoko, arrived in Rwanda on February 14th, 2012 for a five days official visit.

Bakayoko is heading a delegation of 9 Ivorian officials. The visit comes as a follow up and continuation of previous official visits made in Rwanda and in Ivory Coast in November 2011 by the Ivorian Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, the Right Honorable Guillaume Soro and the Rwandan Minister of Defense, Honorable General James Kabarebe, respectively.

While in Rwanda, the Ivorian Chief of General Staff and his delegation expect to learn much from the Rwandan experience, on issues related to the reintegration of ex-combatant forces in a single unified Armed Force and the concept of the Reserve Force.

The Ivorian delegation will also hold discussions with officials of the Rwanda Ministry of Defense (MOD)/ and Defense Forces (RDF) and tour different military facilities such as: the banking scheme (ZIGAMA CSS), and the Rwanda Military Academies in Gako and Nyakinama.