African Security Experts Convene in Rwanda to Tackle Child Recruitment in Armed Conflict
A week-long regional workshop and training programme aimed at strengthening the capacity to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed violence has opened at the Rwanda Peace Academy (RPA) in Musanze District, Northern Province of Rwanda.
The workshop has brought together 28 participants from military, police, and civilian institutions across eight African countries: DR Congo, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Uganda.
The “Regional Lessons Learnt Workshop and Regional Lead Trainers’ Course,” which began on Monday, February 16, will run until February 20.
It was jointly organised by the Ministry of Defence, the Rwanda Defence Force, the Dallaire Institute, and the Rwanda Peace Academy. The programme also includes officials from the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security and the Eastern Africa Standby Force.
The workshop was officially opened by Shelly Whitman, Executive Director of the Dallaire Institute.
According to organisers, the workshop provides a platform for participants to exchange lessons drawn from similar training sessions conducted in 2025 across several African countries and African Union institutions. The discussions are expected to help refine and strengthen future training initiatives.
The regional lead trainers’ course will focus on enhancing participants’ expertise and instructional skills, updating previously trained instructors, and collecting feedback on revised training materials aimed at preventing the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict.
