Visiting President Faustin-Archange Touadéra of the Central African Republic (CAR), on Friday, August 6, paid a visit to Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Headquarters in Kimihurura. The visiting head of state was welcomed by the Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Albert Murasira and the RDF Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Jean Bosco Kazura. Together with several other leaders of RDF, they discussed how to strengthen the existing relationship between the Central African and Rwandan armed forces, according from a statement from RDF. The CAR President commended the work done by RDF troops in CAR, said Minister Murasira in a statement. We also discussed how RDF can be part of the journey to restructure and professionalize the CAR Armed Forces. According to Minister Murasira, the process has already started following a bilateral defence agreement signed on Thursday, August 5. President Touadéra is, since Thursday in Rwanda for a four day visit. His visit has culminated into the signing of four bilateral agreements, including one on defence. Rwanda has a strong presence in CAR where RDF maintains 3 Battalions of peacekeepers and a Level 2 Hospital under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). The government has also recently deployed a separate Battalion under the bilateral defence cooperation framework.
