In Rwanda, President Paul Kagame has initiated a significant restructuring of the military, involving the retirement of numerous soldiers, concurrently with the progression of young talents within the nation’s security framework. This reshuffle also encompasses the appointment of fresh generals to head various army divisions stationed throughout the country.
According to an official statement from the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF), President Kagame has given his endorsement for the retirement of twelve generals, eighty-three senior officers, and six junior officers. Additionally, eighty-six senior non-commissioned officers are set to retire. Around 678 soldiers have concluded their service as their contracts ended, and an additional 160 individuals have been medically discharged.
Among those retiring are notable figures from Rwanda’s pivotal 1994 liberation war, including Gen. James Kabarebe, Gen. Fred Ibingira, and Lt. Gen. Charles Kayonga. Kabarebe and Kayonga, both of whom have previously held the role of chief of defense staff of the Rwandan army, are included in this group.
Simultaneously, President Kagame has promoted a cadre of young officers to the rank of colonel and appointed fresh generals to assume leadership roles within military divisions. The list of retirees extends to Lt. Gen. Frank Mushyo Kamanzi, who currently serves as Rwanda’s ambassador to Russia, and Maj. Gen. Albert Murasira, a former defense minister.
Earlier, in June, Kagame appointed Juvenal Marizamunda as the new defense minister, succeeding Albert Murasira, who had held the position since 2018.
Concurrently, President Paul Biya of Cameroon, one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, has introduced a series of new appointments within the central administrative unit of the Defense Ministry, as outlined in a decree disseminated via social media.
