A total of 634 soldiers of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA), trained by the Rwanda Defence Force, graduated on Monday, August 5, in the capital, Bangui.
The group, the second to be trained by the Rwandan military, comprised 55 women.
The first cohort of 512 soldiers trained under the framework of a bilateral agreement between Rwanda and CAR graduated on November 24, 2023.
Monday&039;s ceremony was presided over by President Faustin-Archange Touadéra.
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"Sincerely, I would like to thank my brother Paul Kagame for his cooperation,” Touadéra told journalists at the end of the pass-out ceremony.
The Head of State also congratulated President Kagame on his recent re-election as he concluded his address to the press.
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On December 20, 2020, Kigali deployed force protection troops to CAR under a bilateral agreement on defence, in response to the targeting of the Rwanda Defence Force contingent serving under MINUSCA, by a militia coalition loyal to former president François Bozize.
On Monday, RDF Army Chief of Staff Maj Gen Vincent Nyakarundi delivered a message to President Touadera, from his Rwandan counterpart, promising continued support to the Central Africa Republic Army.
"I would like to reiterate the will of Rwanda Defence Force in continuing to help Central African Republic soldiers not only in basic training but also in other military areas,” he said.
Nyakarundi called upon the new officers to take it upon themselves to continue learning and growing in their military career.
"The lessons you received here, are a foundation to build on your military career,” he said.
There are 1,200 Rwandan special forces in the country under a bilateral agreement on defence. Their tasks include restoring peace and security, securing Bangui and its surroundings, ensuring peoples freedom of movement, as well as securing the residence of the President in Damara - a region in the prefecture of Ombella-M&039;Poko, located about an hour from Bangui.