In January 2016, President Paul Kagame who had attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland; reminded fellow Africans to own solutions that can help to achieve Africa’s peace-building process. Leading by example, under Kagame’s leadership, Rwanda has built a competent army that offers solutions to the African continent.
Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) has played a big role in the Central African Republic’s security sector reform. Last week, the RDF completed the first cohort of military training for 512 CAR soldiers. An impressive stride, Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadéra commended as a result of “fruitful cooperation.”
However, the RDF’s influence in CAR expands beyond training the CAR soldiers. At the graduation, President Touadera recognized how Rwandan soldiers played a key role in their quest for peace. In 2020, Rwanda deployed troops to respond to the aggression of rebels from the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC). The Rwandan army’s support blocked the coalition from advancing to the capital Bangui. And according to the CAR president, the country is becoming peaceful and secure bit by bit.
Since 2017, the Rwandan army has been fighting a jihadist insurgency in Mozambique. The RDF which dispatched 1000 troops in July 2021, has made possible the waning of the insurgency posed by Ansar-al-Sunna in Cabo Delgado province. Now, the more than 2500-strong insurgency has reduced to 300 fighters. Beyond that, areas like Mocimboa da Praia have been stable and free from terrorist attacks.
Furthermore, between 4500 and 6000 Rwandan soldiers are peacekeepers in South Sudan and Central African Republic, making Rwanda the fourth largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions. Lately, the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) Force Commander hailed the Rwandan soldiers as “very brave,” who often “intervene in difficult situations to protect civilians.”
In a nutshell, Rwanda emerged not only as a nation that has forged a competent army but as a steadfast contributor to Africa’s peace-building endeavours. From training security forces in the Central African Republic to countering an insurgency in Mozambique, the RDF exemplifies a commitment to fostering stability. Rwanda’s proactive approach showcases a model for other nations, highlighting the importance of homegrown solutions to advance the cause of peace across the African continent.
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