Gen. Kayonga returns from Darfur tour

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), Lt. Gen Charles Kayonga, has concluded a five-day working visit to Sudan, where he visited Rwandan contingents serving under the United Nations-African Union Hybrid Mission in Darfur (Unamid). He advised the peacekeepers to be Rwanda’s ambassadors by observing the highest standards of discipline as they execute their mandate. Gen. Kayonga witnessed and assessed how officers and men of the RDF and Rwanda National Police (RNP) as well as civilian staff were contributing towards the peacekeeping mission. The military chief asked the peacekeepers to serve the Sudanese the same way they would serve their own compatriots. Rwanda is one of the main troop contributors in the mission, with about 3,200 peacekeepers. Defence and Military Spokesperson, Col. Joseph Nzabamwita, said that Gen Kayonga held discussions with Unamid Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba and other senior mission officials, who briefed him on the situation in Darfur. The contingents further briefed him how they were executing their duties, and their role in contributing to peace-building, not only through the conventional methods, but also through sharing Rwanda’s experience in home grown solutions, added Col. Nzabamwita. The CDS also paid a courtesy call on his Sudanese counterpart, and visited the country’s military academies. The CDS and his delegation visited troops in various areas: RWANBATT 26 deployed in Zalinge, RWABATT 28 in Kabkabiya, RWABATT 29 and RWABATT 27 deployed at UN Headquarters, El Fasher and Zam Zam respectively, according to Nzabamwita. Recently, the first contingent of 140 personnel from Rwanda Air Force (RAF) completed their pre-deployment course in Peacekeeping Operation at Rwanda Military Academy Gako. They were composed of helicopter pilots, flight engineers, engineers, among others. Rwandan peacekeepers widely been commended for their exemplary service in peacekeeping missions. eric.kabeera@newtimes.co.rw