Rwanda President Paul Kagame has appointed Jean-Bosco Kazura as the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Chief of Defence Staff.
Kazura, 56, replaces Gen Patrick Nyamvumba – Chief of Defence Staff since June 2013 – who was named Minister for Internal Security.
Before his appointment, Kazura, who also moved a rank higher to Four Star General was the Commandant of RDF Command and Staff College – Musanze as well as former head of the Rwandan Football Federation (Ferwafa).
The promotion of Kazura to the rank of General brings the list of RDF Four Star Generals to five, including Gen. Nyamvumba, Gen. Fred Ibingira, Gen. James Kabarebe and Gen. (Rtd) Marcel Gatsinzi.
He has also served at two United Nations peacekeeping missions in Mali and Sudan.
Among other appointments made by Kagame, Gen Fred Ibingira becomes new Chief of Staff of the Reserve Force for the second time. He replaces Lt Gen Jacques Musemakweli, who was appointed the Inspector General of RDF.
Maj Gen Innocent Kabandana, who was Commander of Special Operations Force, has been named the Deputy Reserve Force Chief of Staff, according to an RDF statement released last night. Brig Gen Didas Ndahiro has been appointed the new Commandant of RDF Command and Staff College – Musanze, replacing Gen Kazura. He was Commander of Artillery Division.
Also appointed is Brig Gen Ephrem Rurangwa, who becomes the Commandant of Rwanda Military Academy – Gako. Rurangwa has been serving as Chief J4 (Logistics).
Brig Gen James Ruzibiza, who was the Chief J9 (Civil-Military Relations), was promoted from Colonel and appointed Commander of Engineering Brigade, according to the local The New Times daily.
Karusisi Ruki has been elevated from Colonel to Brigadier General and appointed Commander of Special Operations Force, replacing Maj Gen Kabandana.
Brig Gen Ruki was Deputy Commander of Special Operations Force.
The Commander-in-Chief also appointed Col Joseph Karegire as Chief J3 (Operations and Training), Col Faustin Kalisa as Chief J1 (Personnel), and Col Adolphe Simbizi as Chief J4 (Logistics).
Col Karegire was until yesterday Commander of Military Police, while Col Kalisa and Col Simbizi were serving as Commander, Engineering Brigade, and Director, Patrimony at the Ministry of Defence, respectively.
Col Jean-Paul Karangwa was named the new Commander of Military Police, replacing Col Karegire, while Patrick Karuretwa was promoted to Colonel up from Lieutenant Colonel. Karuretwa is Principal Private Secretary to the President.
Lt Col Emmanuel Kanobayire was promoted to Colonel and effectively appointed Second in Command of Special Operations Force. He has been serving as a battalion commander in Special Operations Force.
Also promoted from Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel is Jules Rwirangira, who was also appointed Commander of Artillery Division.
Lt Col Lausanne Ingabire was named Chief J9. She has been serving as Director of Gender in J9.
Also promoted is Regis Rwagasana Sankara who has been elevated to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel up from Major, three weeks after he emerged the best student in the latest cohort of graduates of the RDF Command and Staff College – Musanze.
The new changes and deployments took immediate effect, according to the statement.
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