RDF complete documentation of peacekeeping experience

MUSANZE – The RDF Chief of Defence Staff , Lt.Gen Charles Kayonga, joined other senior Rwanda Defence Forces in giving lessons learnt during peace keeping missions overseas in a documentation exercise at Rwanda Peace Academy The documentation process which involved over 40 RDF military observers, contingent commanders and staff officers as well as 10 Police Officers who have been involved in peace support operations, ended Friday The Commander of the A U/U N Hybrid operations in Darfur (UNAMID) Lt.Gen Patrick Nyamvumba, as well as Maj.Gen Karenzi Karake, who was deputy force Commander of the UN/AU hybrid force, gave their practical experiences , in the documentation workshop held at Nyakinama, Musanze District In his remarks at the closing of the workshop, Gen. Kayonga said that documentation is timely, as the experience of RDF and Rwanda National Police needs to be reviewed in order to help in guiding current and future peacekeeping “This (documentation) will serve not only to benefit Rwanda as it continues the pursuit of peace but also the partner countries and institutions with whom Rwanda shares the responsibility of seeking for peace,’’ Kayonga said The documentation involved discussions regarding the role of the UN and its agencies in PSO, human rights, practical challenges, humanitarian aspects, and sustainable post conflict recovery. “RDF has been proactive in offering humanitarian support, medical treatment to members of the population, introducing environmentally friendly cooking stoves and even planting trees in the desert,’’ Kayonga added. Over 3,500 RDF personnel are in various peace keeping missions, while Rwanda police officers are currently involved in the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMAL), UN Operations in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI), UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), and UN Mission in Central African Republic in Chad (MINRCAT) Col. George Rwigamba, who spoke on behalf of the participants, said that the resilience, commitment and respect of values of our country, helped them learn more from various peace support missions. The UN has requested Rwanda to deploy a Battalion of 850 personnel to Juba in Southern Sudan. The Director of the Rwanda Peace Academy-RPA, Col. Innocent Kabandana, said that RPA will compile a comprehensive documentation on the peacekeeping experience and will be used as a guide. Ends