VIDEO: Bodies of fallen RDF peacekeepers arrive

Bodies of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) peacekeepers killed in Bangui, Central African Republic, on August 8, were received with military honours at Kigali International Airport yesterday.

Friday, August 14, 2015

Eugene Kwibuka

A casket containing the body of one of the fallen peacekeepers is carried from a UN plane. (Photos by Faustin Niyigena)

Bodies of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) peacekeepers killed in Bangui, Central African Republic, on August 8, were received with military honours at Kigali International Airport yesterday.

Bodies of fallen RDF peacekeepers arrive at Kigali International Airport. The New Times/YouTube

In a shocking attack, four peacekeepers were instantly killed by a compatriot and fellow soldier who was also serving in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), while another victim succumbed to his wounds from a Kampala hospital where the critically injured had been evacuated to. The assailant was also killed in the process.

The caskets containing the bodies of the five slain soldiers were draped in the national flag colours. (Faustin Niyigena)

Among the RDF officers that received bodies of the fallen soldiers were the Army Chief of Staff, Major General Mushyo Kamanzi, and the Defence and Military Spokesperson Brigadier General Joseph Nzabamwita.

Nzabamwita said that the entire RDF family was saddened by the death of the peacekeepers.

Maj Gen Mushyo Kamanzi greets the bereaved families at Kigali International Airport yesterday.

"At this difficult moment, the RDF comfort the bereaved families, RDF and Rwandans for the terrible loss of our officers in a suspected terrorist attacks while serving in a UN peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic,” he said.

The UN plane after touching the tarmac at the Kigali International Airport last evening.

The bodies of the fallen peacekeepers arrived at Kigali International Airport aboard a UN plane.

They will be laid to rest at Kanombe Military Cemetery on Saturday.

The families of the fallen soldiers, including that of 36-year old Peter Ntwarabugabo, await the arrival of the bodies last evening.

Investigations are underway to establish the motive behind the deplorable shooting incident, Nzabamwita said.

Peter Ntwarabugabo, 36, is one of the five soldiers who were killed in what RDF says was a terrorist attack involving one of their own, who was also killed in the process. (All photos by Faustin Niyigena)

Rwanda maintains a contingent of 750 RDF soldiers in Central African Republic under MINUSCA.

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