Rwanda’s first officer cadets pass out from Indian Military Academy

Two Rwandan officer cadets became the first from their country to complete military training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun and be commissioned into the Rwandan Army.

The two cadets, Second Lieutenants Ndagijimana Elie, 24, and F Niyikiza, 26, marked the occasion in the presence of Mwepesi Emile, counsellor at the Rwanda High Commission in India.

“It was an experience like no other for us. We not only imbibed the values and qualities of a professional army officer but also learnt about different cultures while undergoing military training alongside Indian and other foreign cadets,” said Elie, who is the first member of his family to join the army.

Elie described the 18 months at IMA as one of the most cherished experiences of his life. “When I first arrived here, I realised that military training is not just about physical exercises but also about developing leadership skills, teamwork and mental resilience. We learnt how to become responsible officers and lead with courage and integrity,” he said.

His compatriot, Niyikiza, said the friendships forged during training would remain one of his strongest memories of IMA. “The most valuable thing that I will take back to my country from IMA is the camaraderie and friendships forged with fellow cadets, including the Indian cadets, during the training period,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rwanda High Commission counsellor Emile described the occasion as an important step in strengthening bilateral ties between India and Rwanda. “The training of our officers at IMA is part of the strategic partnership being developed between the two countries, which includes defence cooperation. We hope that more Rwandan officers will come here for training and cultural exchange in the future,” Emile said.