The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) has undergone significant transformation under President Paul Kagame, who also selected a new minister and army chief.
The firing of two senior commanders and more than 200 soldiers with immediate effect was at the top of the list of modifications.
He fired 14 commissioned officers, including RDF Major-General Aloys Muganga, Brigadier-General Francis Mutiganda, and others.
The announcement from his office read, “He (Kagame) has also authorized the dismissal of 116 other ranks and approved the revocation of service contracts of 122 other ranks.”
General Fred Ibingira retired in 2018, and Muganga was appointed to succeed him as Chief of Staff of the Reserve Force (RFCOS).
Mutiganda was transferred back to RDF Headquarters in the same year from his position as Director-General, External Security at the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS).
After appointing Juvenal Marizamunda, 58, as the nation’s 11th defense minister since gaining independence in 1962, Kagame made the modifications.
General Jean Bosco Kazura has been replaced as the leader of the RDF by Lieutenant-General Mubarak Muganga (who is not related to Major-General Aloys Muganga).
The RDF consists of three arms, with the reserve force being made up of part-time military members who may be called up at any time to support the army and the air force.
