On Tuesday, August 6, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra of the Central African Republic (CAR) hosted Major General Vincent Nyakarundi, the Chief of Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), and his delegation at the Renaissance Palace in Bangui.
This meeting came after a graduation ceremony on Monday, where 634 CAR soldiers, the second group trained by the RDF, completed their training under President Touadéra’s oversight.
Olivier Kayumba, Rwanda’s representative in CAR, reported that General Nyakarundi expressed appreciation to President Touadéra for his dedication to enhancing the professionalism of the CAR military. Nyakarundi also encouraged Rwandan military officials to keep up their training efforts to ensure that the partnership between the two nations remains effective and productive.
Nyakarundi conveyed Rwanda’s goal of empowering the Central African army to effectively maintain peace and security in Bangui and across the country.
Before his meeting with President Touadéra, Nyakarundi visited the Rwandan forces stationed at a special forces base in Bimbo, within the Ombella-M’poko prefecture, as part of a bilateral agreement with the CAR government. During his visit, he also had a meeting with Major General Zepherin Mamadou, the Chief of General Staff of the Central African Republic Armed Forces.
Mamadou acknowledged that CAR could gain valuable insights from Rwanda’s recovery process after the Genocide, especially as the country seeks to overcome its own conflicts and unrest. He also extended his appreciation to the Rwandan troops, noting the strong rapport they have developed with the Central African population.
“Our people are grateful to see Rwandan peacekeepers, who demonstrate exceptional dedication and effectiveness in their service,” Mamadou stated.
