Gambia, Rwanda Strengthen Defence Ties in Berlin

At the United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting held in Berlin on May 12, 2025, The Gambia’s Minister of Defence, Brig. Gen. (Rtd) Sering Modou Njie, met with his Rwandan counterpart, Hon. Juvenal Marizamunda, to deepen bilateral defence cooperation.

Both ministers agreed to formalize relations through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will cover training, knowledge exchange, joint exercises, and peacekeeping collaboration. In a key gesture, Rwanda offered free training slots to Gambian Armed Forces personnel at its top military institutions, including the Rwanda Military Academy, Command and Staff Colleges, and the National Defence University.

“This initiative is expected to enhance the professional capacity, operational effectiveness, and leadership development of Gambian military personnel,” the ministers stated.

The two countries also committed to reciprocal high-level exchange visits to assess progress and explore further strategic interests.

Delegations from both sides hailed the engagement as a strategic shift toward stronger cooperation and shared regional security goals.