KIGALI - The U.S. Senior Advisor on Darfur has said Rwanda’s contribution to peace in Sudan, both in the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and in the UN Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS), is enormous.

Ambassador Dane Smith said this in Kigali yesterday after holding discussions with President Paul Kagame.
"We had a good discussion about this and I thanked the President for the wonderful contribution that Rwanda has been making,” Smith said.

"We talked about next steps in the process – the importance of finishing the negotiations in Doha, the armed movements and government getting a good agreement there, which can become a basis for future processes of consultation on the ground in Darfur, to bring this long running conflict to an end”.

Rwanda has deployed four battalions of the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) in Darfur under UNAMID, and the Rwanda National Police (RNP) has 218 and 37 police advisers, serving under UNAMID and UNMIS, respectively.

 In addition to this, the RDF this week announced it plans to provide four military helicopters to UNAMID.
 "That is in itself an important contribution.

For UNAMID, it’s important to have this rapid response capability and helicopters in particular can play an important role – we consider that a very helpful step,” Ambassador Smith said.

 He also noted that the UNAMID Force Commander – Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba, who is also Rwandan, "provides a very important leadership to that effort”.

The U.S. official was accompanied by members of his family and the U.S envoy to Rwanda, Ambassador Stuart Symington, who also reiterated the significance of Rwanda’s massive support to the peace missions in Sudan.

"When you see a force like the Rwandan force, which has been there for a while, and then decides to continue its efforts, and maybe increase them, that’s particularly significant,” Symington said.

"So, ultimately, it’s not about helicopters alone, it is about Rwanda’s continuing leadership role in helping, as Ambassador Smith said, in helping to bring peace to Darfur”.

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