Rwanda Wants to Expand Cooperation in the Field of Hankam with Indonesia

JAKARTA - The Ambassador of Rwanda to Indonesia Abdul Karim Harelimana highlighted the partnership with Indonesia in the field of defense and security (hankam) which has been running well while expressing the hope that the cooperation can be even stronger.

"One of the other major achievements in the relationship between Rwanda and Indonesia is the establishment of a dialogue on security and defense cooperation," said the Rwandan Ambassador in response to Antara's question regarding the achievements of bilateral cooperation when met on the sidelines of the traditional Rwandan celebration, Umuganura, in Jakarta, Friday, August 7 evening.

He explained that Indonesia and Rwanda had signed a letter of intent (letter of intent/LoI) to facilitate exploring cooperation in the field of defense and security.

"Thus, we can continue to discuss the cooperation," he added.

According to the Rwandan Ambassador, one of the concrete results that have been achieved in the cooperation between the police and Indonesia is the strengthening of the partnership between the National Police and the National Police of Rwanda.

"Through this cooperation, Rwandan police personnel are now facilitated to undergo police education in Indonesia," he said.

Previously, on October 6, 2025, the National Police Chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and the National Police Chief of Rwanda, Inspector General of Police Felix Namuhoranye, signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen the eradication of organized transnational crime.

In addition, cooperation between the two national police agencies also includes information and expertise exchange, joint training programs, to the development of police resource capacity.

Indonesia assesses that the partnership shows the commitment of both countries in efforts to strengthen international police cooperation as well as in the field of law enforcement.

Meanwhile, on February 5, 2026, Ambassador Harelimana had met with the Indonesian Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin in Jakarta to discuss bilateral partnerships in the defense sector.

During the meeting, both parties discussed the opportunities for defense cooperation, including the opportunity to establish a defense dialogue forum to support sustainable cooperation in the future.