Rwanda has called on the United Nations to revamp support for countries contributing troops and police to peacekeeping missions, citing funding and equipment shortages that threaten the effectiveness of operations worldwide.
The appeal was made by Colonel Deo Mutabazi, Rwanda’s Military Attaché to the UN, during the launch of the 2026 Contingent-Owned Equipment Working Group (COEWG), a major international forum held every four years that brings together troop- and police-contributing countries to discuss operational challenges, equipment provision, and reimbursement mechanisms for peacekeeping contingents.
Col. Mutabazi emphasized that the conference comes at a critical moment, as UN peacekeeping operations face resource constraints that have led to reductions in personnel and equipment availability.
“Peacekeeping missions cannot achieve their mandates without stable and adequate support for contributing countries,” he said.
Rwanda hopes the forum will deliver practical solutions for gaps in equipment provision and reform of funding frameworks for troop-contributing nations, particularly as global demand for peacekeeping resources continues to rise.
Decisions taken at COEWG 2026 are expected to have a direct impact on the efficiency and sustainability of UN peacekeeping missions worldwide, making it a key event for countries engaged in maintaining international peace and security.
Rwanda, a longstanding contributor to UN peacekeeping, reaffirmed its commitment to active and constructive engagement, aiming to strengthen the welfare of deployed personnel and improve the overall effectiveness of global peacekeeping operations.
