Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) has concluded the relief-in-place for its peacekeepers deployed under United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). The last group of 120 peacekeepers of 49 Infantry Battalion landed on 13 December 2016 at Kigali International Airport, aboard a RwandAir aircraft.
Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) has concluded the relief-in-place for its peacekeepers deployed under United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).
The last group of 120 peacekeepers of 49 Infantry Battalion landed on 13 December 2016 at Kigali International Airport, aboard a RwandAir aircraft.
The just concluded rotation exercise, during which three RDF Battalions serving under UNAMID were replaced by a similar number of battalions, started on 24 November 2016.
On his arrival with the returning group, Lt Col David Murenzi, the 49 Battalion Commanding Officer, said that their mission was a success.
"We have successfully accomplished our mission by restoring security in different areas of Darfur previously inaccessible due to persistent conflicts,” Murenzi said.
He added that they also conducted different activities aimed at restoring hope to the people of Darfur such as construction of schools, distribution of school materials, water harvesting tanks and mosquito nets to those in need, especially internal displaced people (IDPs).
On 20 November 2016, the 49 Battalion handed over a nursery school block with capacity to accommodate 40 children, constructed for people living in Garsila Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp of Nertiti Community in Darfur.
The returning RDF soldiers were received, on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, by the Acting 1 Division Commander, Brig Gen Denis Rutaha, who congratulated them for discipline and the job well done throughout their one-year tour of duty.
"The RDF leadership is well informed of your good conduct and how people in Darfur as well as the UNAMID leadership itself commended the discipline and good service you rendered”, he told the returning peacekeepers.
He further urged them to continue upholding the same values that shaped Rwanda Defence Force.
Rwanda maintains six battalions in various peacekeeping missions; one aviation unit in South Sudan (UNMISS), as well as a Level 2 Hospital in Central Africa Republic (MINUSCA).
The country is currently ranked the fifth largest troop and police contributing country to UN Peacekeeping Missions globally.
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