Somalia and Rwanda have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening military cooperation as part of broader efforts to enhance regional security within the East African Community (EAC).
A Somali military delegation led by the Chief of Defence Forces, Major General Odawa Yusuf Rage, began a six-day official visit to Rwanda, focusing on deepening collaboration between the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF).
Maj. Gen. Odawa, who was reappointed as Somalia’s army chief in November 2024, is accompanied by senior Somali officers, including Lieutenant Colonel Iimaan Elman, Head of Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) at the SNAF.
During the visit, the Somali delegation is expected to tour key Rwandan defence institutions under the Ministry of Defence, as well as the Campaign Against Genocide Museum, as part of broader engagements on institutional learning and post-conflict recovery.
On Tuesday, the Somali delegation was hosted at the Rwanda Defence Force Headquarters in Kimihurura, where Maj. Gen. Odawa held talks with Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, Hon. Juvenal Marizamunda, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. M.K. Mubarakh. The discussions centered on regional security and opportunities for enhanced military cooperation.
The delegation also visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where they paid tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, underscoring the shared commitment of both nations to peacebuilding and reconciliation.
Somalia’s Chief of Defence Forces’ visit comes as Mogadishu continues to consolidate its security sector reforms and strengthen ties with regional partners under the EAC framework.
