Over 123 Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) who were deployed on Saturday, August 5th for Regional Protection Force have been welcomed by UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan.
The (RDF) Peacekeepers under the command of Major Bosco Ntaganira are comprised of the main body of the Reconnaissance Company of the Mechanized Infantry Battalion in South Sudan as part of the Regional Protection Force (RPF) to the United Nations Mission in Juba, South Sudan (UNMISS).
The first elements and Contingent Owned Equipment movement were affected by road through Uganda to the South Sudan’s capital Juba left Rwanda on 30 July 2017 and arrived safely last night.
Rwandan troops under RPF were welcomed in UNMISS by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in South Sudan, David Shearer, together with the RPF Commander, Brig Gen JJ Mupenzi, and Commanding Officer Lt Col Vianney Cuba.
“The deployment follows a request from the United Nations, the acceptance of the Government of Rwanda to deploy a Mechanized Infantry Battalion and the proposal to first send in a Reconnaissance Company as an Advance Party to the near future deployment of the Battalion totaling 920 troops”, Brig Gen Ferdinand Safari, Ministry of Defense DG Policy& Strategy disclosed.
On 12 August 2016, United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution number 2304 (2016) authorizing the deployment of a Regional Protection Force (RPF) to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan to provide a secure environment in and around Juba.
Currently, Rwanda maintains two Infantry battalions in Juba and Malakal and one Aviation Unit serving under UNMISS.
Express News Rwanda
