Rwandan peacekeepers embark on disarmament campaign in Bangui

Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) Rwanda Mechanized Infantry battalion (RwaMechBatt1), serving in the African-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA) in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR) continues stabilization and protection of civilians operations in Bangui.

These activities involve sensitization to all armed groups to lay down their arms and a call to the general public in Bangui to disengage with looting and ruining their Nation.

On 3 February the RDF Peacekeepers held meetings with Anti-Balaka armed group in their defensive positions near Bangui International Airport.

The discussion between RwaMechBatt1 Forces and Anti-Balaka centred on disarmament and improving security situation for all CAR people. After receiving the peace message, the anti-balaka promised to lay down their arms and cooperate with the peacekeepers to ensure peaceful CAR.

“ We are ready to lay down our arms. We will cooperate with you and do what you want”, said one of the anti-balaka who requested the Rwandan Peacekeepers in MISCA to conduct similar visits to other anti balaka positions in the bush as long as they keep their neutrality in the CAR crisis.

The RwaMechBatt1 Forces also held a similar meeting with the local population of “Groupement II , 5th Arrondissement” in Bangui where local community promised to be more cooperative with the Peacekeepers in restoring peace and security in Bangui.

RwaMechBatt1 has meanwhile resumed a humanitarian escort including commercial vehicles heading to Cameroon to buy much needed supplies for CAR in transit at the Cameroon-CAR border.

The RwaMechBatt1 opened the 700 km Humanitarian Corridor on 27 January2014 after Bangui and CAR had been cut off from supplies by armed groups controlling the Bangui-Cameroon border road that connects it to the sea port in Douala (Cameroon).

 

MoD

UM– USEKE.RW