Harvard Students Visit Rwanda Defence Force Headquarters to Study National Transformation

KIGALI, Rwanda – A delegation of 41 students from Harvard University visited the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Headquarters today, March 19, 2026, as part of an intensive study tour focused on post-conflict reconstruction and national security.

The delegation, comprised of graduate students from various disciplines including public policy and international development, was received at the Kimihurura headquarters by the Defence Spokesperson, Brigadier General Ronald Rwivanga, on behalf of the RDF Chief of Defence Staff.

During the visit, the students were briefed on the RDF’s unique journey, specifically its transformation from a liberation force into a professional national army following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The briefing highlighted the military’s dual role in maintaining national sovereignty and driving socio-economic development through “Army Week” projects and community outreach.

“The goal is to understand how a country can rebuild its institutions and its soul at the same time,” said one of the student organizers. “Seeing the RDF’s transition into a major contributor to global peacekeeping provides a powerful case study in institutional professionalization.”

Brigadier General Rwivanga detailed Rwanda’s current security architecture and its “homegrown solutions” that have fostered unity and reconciliation. The session also covered the RDF’s significant footprint in international missions, where Rwanda remains one of the world’s top contributors to United Nations and bilateral peacekeeping operations.

The visit is a cornerstone of the annual “Harvard Rwanda Trek.” Beyond the military headquarters, the students’ seven-day itinerary includes high-level meetings at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and visits to innovation hubs, aiming to provide a comprehensive look at the “Rwanda Model” of rapid development.

The delegation is expected to conclude their tour later this week after visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay their respects to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.