Rwanda and Morocco convened the first meeting of their Joint Military Cooperation Commission in Rabat from Jan. 18 to Jan. 22, 2026, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral defense ties.
Rwanda was represented by delegates from the Ministry of Defence and the Rwanda Defence Force, led by Brig. Gen. Patrick Karuretwa, Director General of international military cooperation. The meeting aimed to reinforce collaboration between the two nations’ armed forces in areas of mutual interest, building on a military cooperation agreement signed in June 2025.
Earlier, in November, Rwanda’s Commander of Land Forces, Maj. Gen. Vincent Nyakarundi, conducted a working visit to Morocco to bolster military relations. During discussions, Nyakarundi expressed Rwanda’s satisfaction with the robust relationship between the two countries, calling the visit “an important step in consolidating military cooperation and expanding opportunities for ongoing dialogue between our armed forces.”
Leaders from both countries pledged to continue deepening cooperation, which they said could serve as a model for international defense partnerships.
Rwanda and Morocco share a long history of collaboration, intensified since 2016 when King Mohammed VI of Morocco visited Kigali. That visit laid the foundation for cooperation across agriculture, trade, politics, and joint efforts to address regional challenges. It also resulted in multiple agreements covering political dialogue, aviation services, visa facilitation, security cooperation, and tourism.
The 2025 military cooperation agreement, signed after a meeting between Morocco’s Defence Minister Abdeltif Loudyi and Rwanda’s Defence Minister Juvénal Marizamunda, includes joint training, military exercises, technical assistance, military health services, and knowledge exchange.
This week’s commission meeting established a framework to implement the agreements, providing a platform for regular consultations and joint initiatives to strengthen the military partnership between Rwanda and Morocco.
