Family of first Darfur victim compensated

KIGALI - The Army Spokesman Major Jill Rutaremara, has revealed that the family of the late Cpl. David Niyonsaba, the first Rwandan soldier to die in Darfur, will now get their due compensation after finally reaching an agreement. The delay was as a result of a stand-off between the late Niyonsaba’s father Frodouard Sehungu, and Dative Mukamudenge, a lady with whom the fallen soldier had a son, albeit out of wedlock, who initially contested the US$100,000 reparation money. Maj. Rutaremara explained that it was on these grounds that the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) blocked the compensation payment pending the resolution of the matter – either in or out of court. The two parties finally agreed on an out of court settlement and towards end of July requested the RDF to permit them to collect the money from Zigama Credit and Savings Scheme (CSS). “The RDF is happy and relieved that they have finally reached an amicable agreement to share the US$100, 000 equally,” said Maj. Rutaremara. Following the incident, Rutaremara reiterated the call by the RDF leadership upon all Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) personnel to legalise their marriages in order to avoid such rather “upsetting incidences.” He told The New Times that the RDF Headquarters had since written to Zigama CSS asking the bank “to allow the parties to withdraw the money that has been lying there since 2006.” Niyonsaba passed away in El Fasher, Darfur October 18, 2005 in a motor traffic accident while serving as part of the then African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). Rwanda’s contingent in the present joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur (UNAMID) amounts to some 2,600 troops and there have been calls to augment it with both men and equipment. Ends

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Family of first Darfur victim compensated