Rwanda starts rotation of peacekeepers in South Sudan
March 14, 2021 (JUBA) – The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) has started rotation of its peacekeeping troops serving in Malakal town of Upper Nile state under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
According to the Rwandan army, the first group of 128 peacekeepers from 157 Infantry Battalion left Kigali on March 10 to replace the 105 Infantry Battalion, whose first batch returned home.
Speaking on behalf of the Rwandan Chief of Defence Staff, Brig Gen John Bosco Rutikanga urged forces on a peacekeeping mission to be good ambassadors and exercise their duties with high discipline.
“Be always guided by RDF values and safeguard the good image of Rwanda by performing your mission with discipline,” he stated.
The returning Rwandan peacekeepers were also congratulated for having successfully concluded their tour of duty in South Sudan and urged to maintain discipline in future assignments at home.
“During their one-year term in mission, the 105 Infantry Battalion successfully conducted different operations in protection of civilians including security patrols, IDPs protection, humanitarian logistics escort and different civil-military activities,” RDF said in a statement.
Under the UN mission, Rwanda currently maintains three battalions and one aviation unit in South Sudan.
Rwanda is the third biggest troop-contributing country in support of UN peacekeeping operations in Darfur (UNAMID), South Sudan (UNMISS), and the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
(ST)