Editor,

RE: "RDF retires three generals, over 800 others” (The New Times, July 18). Much respect to the generals and other retiring servicemen and women of the Rwanda Defence Forces. Your exemplary work and sacrifices for our country shall remain in the hearts of the remaining servicemen and women. You are leaving RDF stronger than ever before.

Where you are heading you should maintain discipline that has always characterised you while at home or abroad. You should keep protecting our country, at any cost, as history teaches us that the burden of living without a country/living as a refugee is as heavy as what you and our parents had experienced.

Twenty-three years later, Rwandans all over the world are living a dignified life because there is a dignified Rwanda. Your fellow compatriots are looking forward to seeing you continue to live by the same values that have always defined the RDF. They do not expect you to let them down after you have retired.  

It pains Rwandans a lot when a compatriot turns against Rwanda and conspires to do it harm. However, it pains more when a member of the RDF does such act — whether retired or not — because we truly love you brave brothers and sisters in uniform.

Yulian