Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) Secretary General Wellars Gasamagera on Wednesday, July 17, received a delegation of the Central African Republic’s ruling Mouvement Cœurs Unis (CMU) party led by Simplice Sarandji, its National Executive Secretary, at his offices in Rusororo, in Kigali.

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Sarandji is also the Speaker of the Central African Republic Parliament.

"The two officials discussed bilateral matters of mutual interest and signed a party-to-party bilateral agreement,” reads a post on X by the RPF Secretariat.

ALSO READ: Rwanda-CAR cooperation fruitful, says President Touadéra

https://x.com/rpfinkotanyi/status/1813578067182240061

Mouvement Cœurs Unis, or the United Hearts Movement, is a political party in the Central African Republic led by President Faustin-Archange Touadéra.

Last November, Touadéra told reporters that the bilateral ongoing cooperation arrangement with Rwanda is fruitful, having helped to restore peace and security in his country.

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In December 2020, Rwanda’s special forces were critical in blocking the advance – on Bangui – of the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) rebel alliance led by former president François Bozize. At the time, Rwanda quickly deployed special forces under a bilateral arrangement on defence to bolster the Central African Republic’s armed forces.

Touadéra acknowledged that "we still have challenges" and that is why Bangui remains thankful for the support and cooperation from Kigali. He noted that the cooperation and support is not about to stop.

Rwanda first deployed troops to CAR in January 2014. Lately, there are more than 2,000 Rwandan soldiers serving in the country under the UN peacekeeping mission (MINUSCA). The blue helmets protect civilians, the country’s top leaders including President Touadéra, UN personel and equipment, as well as strategic national facilities and areas including M’Poko International Airport.

On December 20, 2020, Kigali deployed force protection troops to CAR under a bilateral agreement on defence, in response to the targeting of the RDF contingent serving under MINUSCA by forces royal to a rebel coalition bent on overthrowing the democratically elected government.

At the time, Rwanda’s special forces were critical in blocking the advance – on Bangui – of the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) rebel alliance led by former president François Bozize. Kigali quickly deployed special forces under a bilateral arrangement on defence to bolster the Central African Republic’s armed forces.