Lt Gen. Humphrey Nyone, the Force Commander of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), commended Rwandan troops serving under his command as “very brave” during remarks on Thursday, November 23.
Despite the fact that the mission operates under very difficult circumstances, he noted, the Rwandan contingent is one of the bravest, often intervening in difficult situations to protect civilians.
Speaking from MINUSCA headquarters in the capital city of Bangui, Lt Gen Nyone lauded the courage exhibited by the contingent of Rwandan peacekeepers embedded with MINUSCA forces undertaking operations across the CAR.
“Rwandese contingents are under my command—those that are under the umbrella of the UN,” he said.
“They are doing a fantastic job. We have the Rwandese contingent that is securing our MSR1 (the country’s main supply road) from the border with Cameroon up to here (Bangui).
“MSR1 is the lifeblood of this country. You close MSR1, and this country is gone, because there will be no resupply coming in, all the way from the Port of Douala in Cameroon.”
“They (Rwandan peacekeepers) are doing a fantastic job; I’ve visited them several times. The contingent from Rwanda; JTFB, which is the Joint Task Force Bangui. I interact with them on a daily basis. They play a critical role to ensure that Bangui is safe, either from internal incidents, or those external coming from outside and trying to assault Bangui. I am proud of what they are doing, as Force Commander. They are one of the very dependable contingents that I have under my command.”
Nyone was speaking to a group of journalists – at his offices in Bangui – visiting to cover the recovery process of the country. The Central African Republic has faced protracted periods of instability, armed conflicts, and humanitarian crisis.
The Rwandan troops were first deployed to MINUSCA in late 2020 and have since played a vital role carrying out tasks ranging from civilian protection to supporting political processes to facilitating humanitarian assistance and safely reaching conflict-stricken communities.
However, executing their duties has often meant engaging in fierce firefights with various armed groups responsible for considerable bloodshed and instability. Over 200 MINUSCA uniformed personnel, both civilian and military alike, have lost their lives since 2013.
But Lt Gen Nyone maintained that the Rwandans have more than risen to meet these challenges. “They are incredibly well-trained and professional soldiers we are fortunate to call comrades-in-arms here,” he said.
The term of the Rwandan contingent currently serving with MINUSCA is due to conclude in the first months of next year, barring an extension authorized by Kigali authorities.
Lt Gen Nyone voiced his strong support for renewing Rwanda’s participation, considering their superb track record.
