National

The Commander-in-Chief of the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), President Paul Kagame, yesterday appointed Maj Gen Frank Mushyo Kamanzi as the new Army Chief of Staff, replacing Lt Gen Caesar Kayizari, who had held the position since April 2010.

Maj Gen Kamanzi, who was until yesterday the Commandant, Rwanda Military Academy – Gako, is a former Deputy Force Commander of the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS), and has previously served as a defence and security advisor to the President.

Lt Col Franco Rutagengwa is the new Chief of Military Intelligence (J2), while Col Francis Mutiganda becomes the Director General of External Security, according to a statement signed by the Defence Spokesperson, Brig Gen Joseph Nzabamwita.

Lt Col Rutagengwa and Col Mutiganda replace Brig Gen Richard Rutatina and Col Dan Munyuza, respectively, who were suspended in January.

President Kagame also promoted Lt Col Didas Ndahiro and Lt Col Jill Rutaremara to the rank of Colonel after the two officers returned from military courses. Col Ndahiro is fresh from a US army war college, while Col Rutaremara – a former military spokesperson–, has returned from the National Defence College, Kenya.

The new Army Chief of Staff, Maj Gen Kamanzi, who has also previously served as a Brigade Commander, 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, this year.

Col Mutiganda has been working at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Contact email: james.munyaneza[at]newtimes.co.rw