Rwanda deploys Peacekeeping Troops to CAR

Rwanda deploys a combat-ready Mechanized Infantry battalion of 850 personnel under the command of Lt Col Jean Paul Karangwa on 16 January 2014. The RDF peacekeepers to Central Africa Republic are part of the International Support Mission in Central Africa Republic (MISCA).

The deployment follows a request by the African Union to the Republic of Rwanda for peacekeeping contribution to MISCA in order to achieve its mandate to: Protect civilians, restore security and public order; stabilize the country and restore state authority; support reform and restructuring of the defense and security; and create conducive conditions to the provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in need.

The Peacekeepers will operate under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.

Rwandan deployment to MISCA follows a decision of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of African Union held on 19 July 2013 and the United Nations Security Council’s Resolution 2017 (2013) of 5 December 2013 which authorised the establishment and deployment of MISCA.

Within a period of 20 days, the US Military aircraft (C-17) will airlift the 850 peacekeepers to Bangui.

“The existing cooperation between Rwanda and the US Government in Peacekeeping Operations is a cornerstone for concerted efforts to ensure that peace and security is restored in the region and beyond. Rwanda Defence Force reiterates its sincere gratitude to the US for the invaluable support in providing strategic airlift and associated logistic support for the deployment of the Peacekeeping Force to CAR”, underlined Gen Patrick Nyamvumba, the RDF Chief of Defence Staff.

“Besides the battalion’s experience as part of the entire RDF in Peacekeeping Operations, it has undergone a pre-deployment training with specifics on CAR and has been robustly equipped to fulfill their mission mandate”, noted Brig Gen Joseph Nzabamwita, Defence and Military Spokesman.

Although MISCA is a new mission, the RDF continues to participate in other missions under African Union-United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

Rwanda currently maintains more than 4,000 peacekeepers in various missions and is presently ranked the 6th biggest troop contributor in peacekeeping operations in the world.

Source: Minadef

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