Inhofe, Fischer Applaud Nebraska National Guard -- Rwanda Defense Force State Partnership

Statement

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), chairwoman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, today commended the Nebraska National Guard and Rwanda for beginning a new partnership as part of the National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program:

"I'm encouraged by the announcement that the Nebraska National Guard will partner with the Rwanda Defense Force to help prepare, deploy and sustain peacekeeping forces. State partnerships will further both AFRICOM's mission to train and assist regional partners and America's national security goals overall," Inhofe said. "Rwanda is one country where we've seen stability improve by leaps and bounds since AFRICOM's creation and under the leadership of my friend, President Paul Kagame. With defense cooperation like this, we can help them continue to enhance stability and security and combat terrorism on the African continent. On the eve of the National Guard's 383rd birthday, they are showing again that they are "always ready, always there' -- in the homeland and around the world."

"The signing of this state partnership represents an exciting day for the Nebraska National Guard and Rwanda," said Senator Fischer. "The State Partnership Program not only advances our shared security goals, it helps develop professional military leadership and provides a unique opportunity for cooperation between our two nations. This marks the 15th state partnership between the U.S. and an African nation, and I am confident that the Nebraska National Guard will provide a vital contribution to the continuation of U.S. defense cooperation within AFRICOM. I was proud to support the Nebraska National Guard's bid for this linkage, and am looking forward to the opportunities it will bring for Nebraska and our new Rwandan partners."

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