PRESIDENT KAGAME'S NEW YEAR MESSAGE TO THE RWANDA DEFENSE AND SECURITY FORCES

Rwandan President Paul Kagame

Officers, men and women of Rwanda Defense and Security Forces, on behalf of the Government of Rwanda, my family, and on my own behalf, I wish you and your loved ones a Happy New Year 2015 full of success.

As we welcome 2015, we look back at yet another year of distinguished service to our nation. Through your dedicated and selfless service, each and every one of you have continued to deliver the most critical service to all citizens and residents of Rwanda: peace and security for our nation; the core foundation on which many achievements and hopes continue to be built.

We don’t and should never take this for granted, particularly in the context of increasing threats and challenges we continue to face nationally and globally.

Beyond your core mission, you have worked alongside fellow Rwandans in advancing socio-economic development through various initiatives in the areas of education, healthcare, agriculture, and environmental protection among others. Through these activities, you have distinguished yourselves as servicemen and women determined not only to protect our people but also work with them in uplifting their wellbeing.

Beyond Rwanda’s borders; your professionalism, discipline and resilience, made a commendable difference as you contributed to global peace and security, serving other people in need through peace support missions.

Many of you are not able to be with your loved ones during this festive season.

Some of our comrades paid the ultimate price, putting their lives at risk in order to save others’ irrespective of nationality, race or religion. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the late comrades who passed away in service of our nation’s values and ideals. Their sacrifices were not in vain; they will be emulated by those still serving as well as future generations.

As we begin a New Year, I urge you all to maintain and further improve the standards of professional conduct, discipline and patriotism you have demonstrated in 2014. Above all, I urge you to uphold our most critical attribute; the “Rwandan Spirit”. I want you to preserve the core values that enabled us achieve success to this date: Selflessness, Discipline, Honour, Resilience and Humility among others.

The year 2015 will bring new challenges and opportunities. We will undoubtedly be confronted with more threats and hardships; but with our spirit, experience and belief, I am confident that we will continue to prevail.

Working together we shall raise the Rwandan flag higher and steadier as we pursue greater successes for our homeland and the entire community of nations.

God bless you all.