President Paul Kagame, the Commander-in-Chief, last week promoted several police and army officers.

Among the promotions was that of Fred Ibingira, the Chief of Staff Reserve Force, who was promoted from Lieutenant General to a four-star General. Then there was Jacques Musemakweli, the Army Chief of Staff who was promoted from Major General, making him the second Lieutenant General active in service – the other being Lt Gen Frank Mushyo Kamanzi.

Kamanzi is currently the Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

He commands a force with an authorised strength of 17,000 peacekeepers drawn from 55 different countries. He reports directly to the head of the Mission and is responsible for all military activities in support of the Mission’s mandate to protect civilians.

During the recent promotions, 12 brigadier generals were elevated to the rank of Major General. These include Charles Karamba the Chief of Staff, Airforce.

Similar adjustments were made in the Police force.

Promotion in the forces is not only a show of confidence and acknowledgment of hard work but it is also proof that the Rwanda Defense Force is an evolving professional institution, making the army an attractive career. Rwandans join the force, rise through the ranks, retire and the cycle goes on.

The RDF has over the years contributed to peace keeping missions, a duty that has been appreciated by the people they serve in those missions and the international organisations under which the missions fall.

Congratulations to those who were promoted and all the best in their duty of protecting Rwandans, their interests as well as contributing to the development of the country.