Seventy-six Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) peacekeepers were yesterday flown in from the conflict-torn Darfur region of Southern Sudan making it the last rotation this year. 

Aboard Boeing 737-800 Miami Air International jet Reg. No N739MA, the jubilant troops were received by the Chief of Operations and Logistics (J4) Maj Gen Patrick Nyamvumba and the Chief of civil – military relations (J5) Brig Gen Jack Nzinza.

The troops were last week replaced by their colleagues of the 25 battalion as preparations for the deployment of a 26,000-strong hybrid AU-UN force in January gets to later stages.

Lt. Col. James Safari who headed the contingent from the 14 battalion said that it was a fully accomplished task in the six month period they spent on duty.

"We were engaged in different activities like protecting the civilian population and the African Union (AU) equipment and personnel in Kabkabiya,” he said .

He cited construction of the poor roads and digging wells as other activities the troops successfully accomplished.
"There had been misunderstandings between black farmers and Arab nomads over access to water.

We solved that problem by constructing more wells,” Safari said. 

The return of the troops marks the end of years of rotation of the country’s AU Darfur peacekeepers following an initial deployment in August 2004.

The African Mission in Sudan (AMIS) mandate expires on December 31 and peacekeepers who will still be serving under AU by that date will automatically be upgraded to the planned hybrid UN-AU force.

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