KIGALI - Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) chief of logistics (J4)  General Patrick Nyamvumba has been proposed by the Rwandan government to head the AU-UN hybrid force in the war-torn Sudanese region of Darfur.

In a move that elevates Rwanda’s position within the peacekeeping force, Nyamvumba’s name was proposed after Kigali was requested by the UN to provide a candidate to fill the position of overall military commander. 

"What I can confirm now is that his candidature has been forwarded,” Jill Rutaremara Army spokesman told The New Times without revealing more details.

"We will provide you details in due course.”
Nyamvumba will first be approved by the UN Security Council before he takes on the position of Force Commander of the joint UN-AU mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

This position was previously held by Nigeria with Gen. Martin Luther Agwai as the overall commander.

Sources say Nyamvumba’s confirmation could come as early as next week but details as to when he would take up his position, if approved, were still scanty.

Unconfirmed reports also say Nyamvumba traveled to New York to meet UN officials at the beginning of this month. 

Rwanda’s position in UNAMID was previously reserved to Deputy Force Commander. It was first occupied by Generals, Jean Bosco Kazura who replaced Karenzi Karake.

In addition to being chief of logistics, Gen. Nyamvumba is also head of the Military High Court.

Rwanda has four battalions totaling to about 3,300 troops in the Sudanese province.

UNAMID was established by the UN Security Council in 2007 to protect civilians in Darfur, where violence erupted in 2003 between rebels and government forces.

Currently, over 300,000 people are thought to have died and at least two and a half million displaced.

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