Rwanda : RDF gets new Army Chief of Staff

Major General Frank Mushyo Kamanzi has been appointed as the new Army Chief of Staff, replacing Lt Gen Caesar Kayizari. Kayizari who has been in the position since April 2010.

The appointment was made by the Commander-in-Chief of the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), President Paul Kagame.

Kamanzi, has been working as the Commandant of Rwanda Military Academy in Gako. He also worked as Deputy Force Commander of the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS), and has previously served as a defence and security advisor to the President.

Maj Gen Kamanzi is a graduate of National Defence University, US, where he obtained a Masters in National Security Strategy. He is one of the two Rwandan generals who attended a UN Senior Mission Leaders Course, held in Kigali in May, 2012.

Meanwile, the president also appointed Lt Col Franco Rutagengwa as the new Chief of Military Intelligence (J2), while Col Francis Mutiganda becomes the Director General of External Security.

Lt Col Rutagengwa and Col Mutiganda replace Brig Gen Richard Rutatina and Col Dan Munyuza, respectively. These were suspended in January on grounds of indiscipline.

Also promoted were Lt Col Didas Ndahiro and Lt Col Jill Rutaremara to the rank of Colonel after they returned from military courses. Col Ndahiro is from a US army war college, while Col Rutaremara who once worked as a military spokesperson–, has returned from the National Defence College, Kenya.