At Camp Kassaï in Bangui, the ceremony on 10 August marks a new stage in the professionalisation of the Central African Armed Forces. 566 service personnel, including 53 women, have completed their basic military training. But beyond simply increasing numbers, the aim is also to strengthen the various roles and levels of responsibility necessary for the functioning of an army. This initiative is supported by military cooperation between Bangui and Kigali.
At the Kassaï camp, in the Central African Republic, 566 military personnel have just completed 28 weeks of training. Among them are 53 women, as well as specialised personnel trained to meet the specific needs of the armed forces, including 12 officer cadets specialising in medicine. Beyond the units deployed in the field, operational effectiveness also depends on an entire support chain: doctors, technicians, logisticians and other specialists, all essential to preparing for and supporting missions.
The knowledge acquired during this training must now be translated into effective administration in support of the operational capacity of the Central African Armed Forces. Today, we are also celebrating the completion of basic military training for the 566-strong class, including 53 women.
MAJOR GENERAL VINCENT NYAKARUNDI, Chief of Staff of the Army – Rwanda Defence Force
The ceremony also highlights the different levels of qualification within the Central African armed forces. A total of 104 military personnel, including nine women, obtained the second-degree Weapons Proficiency Certificate, while 12 young officers, including two women, completed a 14-week course. From initial training and professional development to the preparation of future commanders, this skills-building process is aimed at progressively strengthening the army’s capabilities. The initiative is part of military cooperation between the Central African Republic and Rwanda, consolidated by the defence agreement signed in 2019 and its implementing protocol in 2021. According to figures provided by the Rwandan authorities, 2,409 Central African military personnel had already received basic military training by the end of 2025, alongside 300 non-commissioned officers. This cooperation therefore places training at the heart of efforts to strengthen the capabilities of the Central African armed forces.
I am first and foremost a medical student, and as a military officer, my objective is to improve healthcare services within the Central African army. This is military training, as its name suggests, and we endured many challenges. Today, we have shown the Head of State that we, the young people trained at Camp Kassaï, are ready to defend our country with patriotism, values and honour.
Chris Bandio-Gbakore, OFFICER CADET – MEDICAL CORPS
And even in the rain, their commitment does not waver. Until the end of the ceremony, these young military personnel remain fully engaged, demonstrating their determination and readiness to serve the nation. For the FACA, the real challenge now begins: turning these skills into operational capabilities, within units, in medical support, in command and on the ground. Because beyond the number of military personnel trained, the success of cooperation between Bangui and Kigali will ultimately be measured by their ability to respond, effectively and sustainably, to the needs of the Central African armed forces.
