Rwandan Author Richard Hategekimana Launches Book on the Diversity and Values of the RDF

On February 28, 2026, Rwandan author and President of the Rwanda Writers' Guild, Richard Hategekimana, officially launched a new book examining the diversity, history, and values of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). The publication highlights the role of the Rwandan military in the country’s security, unity, and development agenda. Titled “The Force Behind the Vision: RDF and Rwanda’s Development Agenda,” the 400-page book explores the evolution of the Rwandan armed forces from the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA)-the movement credited with liberating the country and ending the Genocide against the Tutsi-to the modern RDF. In the book, Hategekimana revisits not only the wars fought by the RPA and RDF, but also the core values that have shaped the force, including patriotism, courage, discipline, and vision. He argues that these principles have contributed significantly to Rwanda’s governance, economic development, social welfare, and justice systems. According to the author, the book was written to preserve the history of the Rwandan armed forces while also sharing lessons that could inspire leadership and professionalism across other sectors of society. Hategekimana emphasized that the diversity and institutional culture of the RDF serve as an example that could be adopted in government institutions, ministries, and public administration. He describes the RDF as an army guided by a mindset of “I know, I do, and I strive for,” reflecting a commitment to discipline and achieving objectives. The author also explained that he chose to write the book in English to allow international readers to better understand the structure, diversity, and achievements of the Rwandan military. He noted that the work aims to highlight Rwanda’s positive experiences, particularly the strong public trust in the RDF, which surveys have shown to be among the most respected national institutions in the country. By sharing these lessons globally, Hategekimana believes other countries can learn from Rwanda’s approach to security, leadership, and national unity. Looking ahead, the author revealed plans to translate the book into Kinyarwanda, French, and Swahili to ensure that its contents are accessible to a broader audience across Rwanda and the wider African region. During the launch event, Tito Rutaremara, Chairman of the Rwandan Armed Forces Advisory Board, praised the initiative, describing the book as an important contribution to preserving the historical record of the RDF. Rutaremara also highlighted the importance of leadership in shaping the armed forces, pointing to President Paul Kagame, the Commander-in-Chief of the RDF, as a central figure in guiding the institution and contributing to the country’s broader development. He further encouraged Rwandans to cultivate a culture of reading, stressing that support for literature and scholarship helps encourage authors to continue documenting national history and achievements. Hategekimana dedicated the book to President Paul Kagame, Tito Rutaremara, and the Rwanda Defence Force, acknowledging their role in shaping the institution that the book seeks to document. Participants at the launch described the RDF as a pillar of Rwanda’s development, welcoming the publication as an important effort to record and share the history and values of the country’s armed forces.

Faits rapportés

On February 28, 2026, Rwandan author and President of the Rwanda Writers' Guild, Richard Hategekimana, officially launched a new book examining the diversity, history, and values of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). The publication highlights the role of the Rwandan military in the country’s security, unity, and development agenda. Titled “The Force Behind the Vision: RDF and Rwanda’s Development Agenda,” the 400-page book explores the evolution of the Rwandan armed forces from the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA)-the movement credited with liberating the country and ending the Genocide against the Tutsi-to the modern RDF. In the book, Hategekimana revisits not only the wars fought by the RPA and RDF, but also the core values that have shaped the force, including patriotism, courage, discipline, and vision. He argues that these principles have contributed significantly to Rwanda’s governance, economic development, social welfare, and justice systems. According to the author, the book was written to preserve the history of the Rwandan armed forces while also sharing lessons that could inspire leadership and professionalism across other sectors of society. Hategekimana emphasized that the diversity and institutional culture of the RDF serve as an example that could be adopted in government institutions, ministries, and public administration. He describes the RDF as an army guided by a mindset of “I know, I do, and I strive for,” reflecting a commitment to discipline and achieving objectives. The author also explained that he chose to write the book in English to allow international readers to better understand the structure, diversity, and achievements of the Rwandan military. He noted that the work aims to highlight Rwanda’s positive experiences, particularly the strong public trust in the RDF, which surveys have shown to be among the most respected national institutions in the country. By sharing these lessons globally, Hategekimana believes other countries can learn from Rwanda’s approach to security, leadership, and national unity. Looking ahead, the author revealed plans to translate the book into Kinyarwanda, French, and Swahili to ensure that its contents are accessible to a broader audience across Rwanda and the wider African region. During the launch event, Tito Rutaremara, Chairman of the Rwandan Armed Forces Advisory Board, praised the initiative, describing the book as an important contribution to preserving the historical record of the RDF. Rutaremara also highlighted the importance of leadership in shaping the armed forces, pointing to President Paul Kagame, the Commander-in-Chief of the RDF, as a central figure in guiding the institution and contributing to the country’s broader development. He further encouraged Rwandans to cultivate a culture of reading, stressing that support for literature and scholarship helps encourage authors to continue documenting national history and achievements. Hategekimana dedicated the book to President Paul Kagame, Tito Rutaremara, and the Rwanda Defence Force, acknowledging their role in shaping the institution that the book seeks to document. Participants at the launch described the RDF as a pillar of Rwanda’s development, welcoming the publication as an important effort to record and share the history and values of the country’s armed forces.