By Kidega Livingstone
Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) Army Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Vincent Nyakarundi, is in Juba for a four-day working mission.
In a press statement from Rwanda Defense Forces seen by this outlet on Wednesday, Maj. Gen. Nyakarundi visited Rwandan peacekeepers serving under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Earlier Monday, he met with the UNMISS chief and Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Nicholas Haysom, and discussed the Rwandan contingent’s performance at UNMISS.
On Tuesday, he also met with the Chief of Defense Forces of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), Gen. Santino Deng Wol. The duo discussed ways of strengthening the existing bilateral military cooperation between the SSPDF and Rwanda Defense Forces.
Nyakarundi also met with Rwandan peacekeeper commanders at the UN Thongping Base Camp, where he was received by the senior national representative in South Sudan, contingent commanders, and senior staff, who briefed him on the current security situation in their area of responsibility before meeting the troops.
The Rwanda Chief of Staff conveyed a message from Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda and Commander-in-Chief of the Rwanda Defense Force, and the entire RDF leadership, thanking them for fulfilling their tasks with professionalism and discipline in the mission area.”
He also briefed the troops on the current security situation in Rwanda and in the region.
He urged the Rwandan contingent at UNMISS to maintain discipline and professionalism and be good ambassadors for their country.
During his visit, Nyakarundi is also expected to meet with Rwandan troops deployed in Malakal in the north of the country, as well as the UNMISS Force Commander, as part of his schedule.
Currently, Rwanda maintains three battalions and an aviation unit deployed in Juba, Durupi, Torit, Malakal, and Bunji, all in support of UNMISS.