Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, for a working visit aimed at strengthening military cooperation between both countries and improving responses to emerging security threats across Africa.
The visit, scheduled for October 18 to 23, 2026, is at the invitation of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Army Chief of Staff, Major General Vincent Nyakarundi.
Shaibu was received on arrival by Nyakarundi and Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to Rwanda, Ambassador Ibrahim Zanna.
The engagement is expected to provide an opportunity for the Nigerian Army and the RDF to exchange professional experiences, strengthen defence ties and explore practical approaches to shared security challenges.
Counterterrorism, regional stability on agenda
According to the Nigerian Army, the visit will enable both forces to share operational experiences, deepen defence collaboration and examine joint approaches to counterterrorism, emerging security threats and regional stability.
The Army said the engagement reflects Shaibu’s commitment to strengthening military partnerships across Africa, supporting mutual capacity development and promoting collective security under the Nigerian Army’s transformation agenda.
Although details of individual meetings and specific agreements were not included in the initial announcement, the stated objectives point to professional exchanges and discussions on how the two militaries can improve their responses to common threats.
Such engagements can provide opportunities for military institutions to compare operational practices, exchange lessons from field experience and explore areas where training and professional development could be strengthened.
However, the Army’s announcement did not specify whether the visit would result in a formal agreement, joint exercise or new operational arrangement between Nigeria and Rwanda.
Building African military partnerships
The visit comes amid broader calls for stronger regional cooperation to address security challenges that cross national borders.
Shaibu has previously advocated deeper defence partnerships among West African countries, arguing that threats such as terrorism, violent extremism and transnational organised crime require cooperation rather than isolated national responses.
During a September 30 engagement with a delegation from the Economic Community of West African States Standby Force in Abuja, the army chief emphasised the importance of intelligence sharing, joint training, military exercises and closer coordination among regional forces.
The Rwanda visit extends that focus on military-to-military engagement beyond Nigeria’s immediate West African neighbourhood.
The Rwanda Defence Force is the country’s national military, with Nyakarundi serving as its Army Chief of Staff. The force has also participated in international and bilateral security deployments, including operations in the Central African Republic.
For Nigeria, discussions with Rwanda could offer an opportunity to exchange perspectives on military training, operational coordination and responses to evolving security threats. The actual scope of any resulting cooperation will depend on the outcomes of the meetings.
Further details expected
The Nigerian Army said the visit would focus on professional exchanges and practical ways both forces could work together against threats affecting the continent.
Further details of the engagements are expected as the visit continues through October 23.
Neither a specific joint military operation nor a new defence agreement was announced in the initial report. The immediate focus remains on strengthening bilateral military relations, exchanging operational knowledge and exploring areas of mutual interest.
The outcome of the visit should become clearer when the Nigerian Army or Rwanda Defence Force releases further information about the discussions and any agreements reached.
