Rwanda’s President approves retirement of over 1,000 soldiers from Army

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame approved the retirement of over 1,000 military personnel, including five generals, according to a statement from the country’s military.

The retirements include former Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Jean Bosco Kazura, four brigadier generals, 170 senior officers, and 992 soldiers who have either reached retirement age or had their service contracts end.

Gen. Kazura, who served as Chief of Defense Staff of the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) from November 2019 to June 2023, is among those retiring. He also held notable positions such as deputy force commander of the African Union Mission in Darfur, Sudan, and force commander of the UN Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). The retiring generals and senior officers have been integral to the army since the 1990s.

This announcement follows President Kagame’s previous decision to dismiss over 200 soldiers, including approximately 20 senior and junior officers, due to issues of gross misconduct, corruption, and violations of military ethics. Brig. Gen. Ronald Rwivanga, an army spokesperson, reiterated the RDF’s commitment to a zero-tolerance policy for corruption and indiscipline, emphasizing that the force remains steadfast in maintaining high standards of conduct.