Two of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) soldiers who died during the peacekeeping mission in Darfur, Sudan, were yesterday given a heroes send-off  with full military honours the Kanombe Military Cemetery.

Present at the funeral were their family members, members of the top military command and fellow soldiers.

Sgt John Twahirwa, 41, and Pte Samuel Ntakirutimana, 28, were killed on October 10, 2011 and their bodies were flown back to Rwanda from Khartoum.

Paying his last respects, the Minister of Defence (MINADEF), James Kabarebe, honoured the fallen soldiers, calling them brave and gallant men who devoted their lives to defend and protect the country to which they had been assigned.

statement from MINADEF, the Minister "abhorred all elements that target peacekeepers striving to protect the vulnerable and contribute to peace and security.
"He reiterated that the RDF remains strong and dedicated to implementing the mission and will not be deterred by such cowardly acts,” the statement reads further.

The minister also reassured families of the fallen soldiers the  support of the government and said that they still remained members of RDF.

Sgt Twahirwa, is survived by a widow and five children and Pte Ntakirutimana Samuel, was single and is survived by hismother and four siblings.

They died on October 10, 2011 in an ambush by unknown gunmen while on patrol at ZamZam, a camp for the internally displaced in Darfur.

In the ambush, four other RDF soldiers were injured and evacuated to Khartoum where they received treatment.

UN investigators are still conducting investigations in the incident. 

Ends