MISCA Force Commander,Brig.Gen Martin Tumenta lauds RDF officers shortly after the rescue operation.(photo.RDF)
Rwanda Defence Force peacekeepers in Central African Republic (CAR) on Wednesday rescued 37 Muslim civilians from being killed by Anti-balaka (pro-Christians) armed group during a violent attack.
The rescued civilians were handed over to the French troops for evacuation to a safer area.
According to sources in Rwanda Defence Forces, the Muslim civilians were rescued when RDF peacekeepers conducted ‘search and rescue’ operation at Begwa, 13 kilometers from CAR’s Capital, Bangui.
This month, a contingent of 850 heavily armed RDF peacekeepers was airlifted by US military planes to the war- torn Central African Republic.
The contingent is under the command of Lt Col Jean Paul Karangwa.
During the departure of the first batch of peacekeepers, RDF spokesperson, Brig.Gen Joseph Nzabamwita confirmed that the battalion assigned to CAR is different from other RDF peacekeepers around the World, based on the situation in the country.
“We are sending an infantry mechanized battalion of peacekeepers who are heavily armed with weapons. Their mandate is to operate under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter and this means that they will be charged with protecting the population, restoring peace and disarming the enemy-which will in some cases involve the use of weapons,” said Brig.Gen.Nzabamwita
According to RDF officials, the operation also involved disarming Ant-Balaka armed group fighters, several arms and ammunitions were seized.
Fire arms and ammunitions seized during the rescue operation include; 5 Sub-Machine Guns, one Rocket Launcher 7 with two bombs, Radio communication, military uniforms and other military equipments, among others.
RDF peacekeepers in CAR are under International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA).
The 850 officers contingent is under Rwanda Mechanized Infantry battalion (RwaMechBatt1)
MISCA hails RDF peacekeepers
After the operation, Force Commander for the African Union Peace keeping Mission to the Central African Republic- MISCA, Brigadier Gen. Martin Tumenta lauded RDF peacekeepers for the brave operation conducted to save civilians from being killed.
The commander of RDF peacekepers in CAR, Rt.col.Jean Paul Karangwa said that his force held meeting with Muslims and Catholics in Marché Abetayi, a suburb which is 15 kilometres from Bangui to purposely build confidence and trust between MISCA Forces and Local Community.
“We dispatched a confidence building patrol around Bangui from our Headquarters. We tried to calm the local population and finally after the meeting, the Muslim and Catholic communities situated separately on both sides of the road were convinced to sit together and hold a meeting”, said the Commanding Officer of RwaMechBatt1.
He added that: “After the “peace message” by the Rwandan Contingent, the local population expressed their hope to re-establish peace and security.
The local population welcomed RDF peacekeepers growing loyalty to them. One of the area residents was quoted as saying to RDF peacekeepers that: “At least you come and talk to us..This gives us hope that you are coming for peace.”
Among other tasks, RDF mission in CAR is has been charged with maintaining security for the newly elected CAR interim president, Catherine Samba-Panza.