SPLA delegation visits Rwanda to study army management
July 28, 2008 (KIGALI) — A high ranking delegation form the Southern Sudan army has begun a seven-day visit to Kigali to study the organisation and management of the Rwandan army, it was announced here.
The eight-member delegation of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army is composed of seven generals and led by Maj Gen Kuol Arob, who heads the Joint Technical Committee of the Joint Defence Board in SPLA.
In a statement issued in Kigali, the spokesperson of the army, Maj. Jill Rutaremana, said the visit will provide a practical opportunity for SPLA delegation to learn about organization and management of the military and defence establishments basing on the Rwandan experience in defence transformation and the overall socio–economic establishment of Rwanda.
According to the military spokesperson the SPLA delegation will meet many officials in the government and the army.
It will hold talks with the Rwandan minster of defence and the Chief of General Staff Gen. James Kabarebe. They also will meet with the minister of finance and economic planning, James Musoni and minister of local government, Protais Musoni.
The statement further said that the SPLM generals will issues related to demobilisation, and national reconciliation with the Rwanda National Demobilization and Reintegration Commission, and Rwanda National Unity and Reconciliation Commission.
Despite the strong trend toward democratisation and openness in many civil matters in Rwanda, the military establishment continues to be regarded as critical for the survival and protection of a country still informed by the 1994 genocide.
The threat posed by the rebels in RDC militated against any substantial reduction in the army that estimated at 64.000 soldiers. Military experts say any demobilisation is followed by recruitment.
The official defence budget was allocated 4% of GDP in the recent years. However the army budget is bolstered by extra-budgetary income from public firms and economic institutions.
(ST)
Young Paul
SPLA delegation visits Rwanda to study army management
What good can those withering generals of SPLA, gain from such a devilish state of Rwanda, that known’s nothing then killing themselves on ethnical line. What a joke, Sudan receives new shipment of Russian fighter jets and GOSS, sent it’s generals to learn genocidal warfare. It will be a disaster if those SPLA generals are all from one ethnic group or clan of Kirr. But anyhow it is still better if their don’t turnout to be from Nuer.