What’s inside Morocco and Rwanda’s military pact?
Morocco and Rwanda have formalised a wide-ranging military cooperation agreement aimed at boosting bilateral defence ties and advancing security coordination across Africa.
The deal, signed in Rabat, Morocco’s capital, marks a significant step in diversifying Africa-to-Africa defence partnerships beyond traditional Western alliances.
The agreement was concluded during the official visit of Rwandan Defence Minister, Juvenal Marizamunda, who met with Morocco’s Minister Delegate for National Defence Administration, Abdellatif Loudiyi. The Rwandan ambassador to Morocco also attended the signing, underscoring its strategic and diplomatic weight.
Key areas of cooperation are: military training and joint exercises, logistics and technical support, military health services, and personnel exchanges and expertise sharing
A joint military commission will be established to oversee the implementation of these activities, with meetings alternating between Rabat and Kigali.
Both countries described the move as part of a shared vision to address Africa’s evolving security challenges through South–South cooperation. They emphasised the need for collective efforts in regional peacebuilding, amid growing instability in the Sahel and parts of Central Africa.
This initiative reflects a broader shift toward continental self-reliance in defence matters, as African states like Morocco and Rwanda take on more proactive roles in shaping the continent’s security architecture.
Intra-African military agreements have become a growing trend, with African countries increasingly signing military cooperation agreements with each other, with the aim of boosting regional capacity, reducing reliance on foreign powers, and addressing shared threats like terrorism and insurgency.
Key examples include;
- Nigeria–Niger–Chad–Cameroon: Joint force against Boko Haram.
- Ghana–Togo–Benin–Côte d’Ivoire: Accra Initiative to combat Sahel extremism.
- South Africa–Mozambique: Southern African Development Community (SADC)-led mission against insurgents in Cabo Delgado.
These partnerships support the African Union’s goal of regional security ownership and reflect a broader push for continental integration and self-reliance.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
