The Rwanda Defence Forces will today see off a contingent of 850 servicemen and women departing for a peacekeeping mission in the volatile Central African Republic (CAR).

The Rwandan troops will serve under the African Union International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (Misca) and will operate alongside French armed forces mandated by the UN Security Council Resolution of December 5, 2013.

The combat-ready mechanised infantry battalion will be deployed under the command of Lt. Col. Jean Paul Karangwa, according to a statement released by RDF yesterday. 

Defence and Military spokesperson Joseph Nzabamwita is quoted in the statement as saying, "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 its mandate.”

Under the UN Charter’s Chapter VII, the troops which have a 12-month mandate. They will be charged with protecting civilians, stabilising the country, restoring State authority over the territory, as well as creating conditions conducive to the provision of humanitarian assistance.

The RDF troops will be airlifted by a US plane to Bangui over 20 days.

"The existing cooperation between Rwanda and the US in peacekeeping operations is a cornerstone for concerted efforts to ensure that peace and security is restored in the region and beyond. 

"Rwanda Defence Forces 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,” Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba, the RDF chief of defence staff, is quoted in the same statement as saying.

Resignation of government

The deployment comes on the heels of resignation of CAR interim president Michel Djotodia and Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye.

Djotodia resigned amid growing pressure from the international community over his failure to put an end to an inter-religious violence that has been on the raise since he took over office.

He was replaced by Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet, the head of the National Transitional Council (CNT), who immediately deployed more soldiers in the capital with orders to shoot troublemakers in an attempt to end months of violence.

Djotodia came to power after toppling Fancois Bozize in March last year.

Since then clashes between Christian and Muslim militia groups have steadily grown, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians and thousands displaced.

The African force is expected to grwo to 6,ooo. France has 1,600 troops in the country, operating under a UN mandate.

Rwanda’s involvement in Peace Support Operations is largely motivated by the need to take its responsibility as an active member of the international community, according to government.

Rwanda has in recent years participated in bids to bring about peaceful settlement of disputes and resolution of conflicts around the world.

RDF also to participates in other missions under African Union–United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur, UN Mission in South Sudan, UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali and UN Interim Security Force for Abyei.

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.