President Paul Kagame on Monday commissioned more than 600 cadet officers who completed their training at Rwanda Military Academy- Gako, into Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), reminding the young and energetic servicemen and women to put the country first and to ensure that whoever attacks Rwanda in future regrets.

The Head of State, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of RDF, told the officers that as the country marks 30 years after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, they have a duty and responsibility to ensure that Rwandans should never lose their lives again as they did before, at the behest of other people who had the power to decide their fate.

President Kagame commended the young officers for choosing to serve the country in the military as well as the parents who supported their choice and the teachers who trained them, pointing out that the more than one year they have spent undergoing has prepared them for the task ahead.

Among other things, the Head of State told the young officers to prepare for what lies ahead, given that today there are many challenges the country has to deal with, including provocations and warmongering from individuals or external forces that want to use war to spread chaos and instability.

“There is always that person who wants to stand in your way or is looking to create instability and block your progress and development. Our history is unique and it shows that we didn’t have the peace I am talking about, which led us to losing many Rwandans. Many of the people we lost were not connected to this military profession in any way. I am saying this so that people stop fearing joining the military,”