South Sudan army chief visits Rwanda

The Chief of General Staff of Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), Gen Paul Malong Awan, and his delegation are in Rwanda on a four-day official visit. The Chief of General Staff of Sudanese Peoples Liberation Army, Gen Paul Malong Awan (R), paid a courtesy call on Defence minister James Kabarebe, who was accompanied by RDF Chief of Defence Staff Gen Patrick Nyamvumba (L). Yesterday, Gen Awan paid courtesy calls on Defence minister James Kabarebe and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Patrick Nyamvumba, at Defence and RDF Headquarters in Kimihurura, Kigali. Gen Paul Malong Awan inspects a guard of honour mounted by the Rwanda Defence Forces at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Kigali yesterday. The SPLA delegation was briefed on RDF and its role in post-conflict and national development. “I chose to visit Rwanda Defence Forces to share with them their experience, see their facilities with confidence that what we see will serve our purpose as we build our young nation, because we share a common background of armed struggle,” said Gen Awan. Gen Paul Malong Awan and his delegation lay wreaths at a mass grave containing the remains of some of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi interred at the Kigali Genocide memorial yesterday. Courtesy. The SPLA delegation visited Rwanda Military Academy, Gako, where they had a presentation on the vision and mission of the military academy. The visiting South Sudanese army delegation, led by Gen Paul Malong Awan, tour the Kigali Genocide memorial yesterday. Military ties RMA Gako conducts a four-year cadet degree programme, a one year cadet course, and the Peace Support Operations pre-deployment training programme. Gen Paul Malong Awan greets RDF officers at the Rwanda Military Academy-Gako as the academy Commandant Maj Gen Jean Bosco Kazura (R) looks on. The SPLA, which trains some of its Officers at RDF Military Institutions, is seeking to enhance military partnership with Rwanda Defence Forces. Gen Paul Malong Awan and his delegation also toured the Rwanda Military Academy-Gako in Bugesera District. Earlier on Monday, Awan and his delegation visited Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre in Gisozi where they paid respect to the victims of 1994 Genocide against Tutsi and learnt more on how the Genocide was planned and executed. The RDF and SPLA chiefs pose for a group photo after their meeting in Kigali yesterday. (Courtesy photos) The delegation will also visit other defence institutions and installations, including Zigama CSS, Military Medical Insurance, Rwanda Military Hospital, and RDF Command and Staff College at Nyakinama. Rwanda maintains two Infantry Battalions and Aviation Unit in United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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South Sudan army chief visits Rwanda