# Rwandan Defence Force

The Rwandan Defence Force (RDF, Kinyarwanda: Ingabo z'u Rwanda, French: Forces rwandaises de défense, Swahili: Nguvu ya Ulinzi ya Watu wa Rwanda) is the military of Rwanda. Prior to 1994, Rwanda's military was officially known as the Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR), but following the Rwandan Civil War and the Rwandan genocide, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) renamed it the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), which was the military wing of the RPF. In late 1994, the military was rebuilt and reorganized as the Rwandan Defence Force (RDF).
The RDF is organized into three service branches: Rwandan Land Force, Rwandan Air Force and Rwandan Reserve Force. After the RPF conquered the country in July 1994 in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide, the RPF decided to reform solely as Rwanda's ruling political party and separate from its military wing, where the latter would serve as the country's official military.
Defence spending continues to represent an important share of the national budget, largely due to continuing security problems along Rwanda's frontiers with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi, and lingering concerns about Uganda's intentions towards its former ally.
The RDF has been engaged in a low-level insurgency from Rwandan rebels based in eastern Congo, primarily the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), since the late 1990s. The RDF is regularly deployed in peacekeeping missions in Africa, as Rwanda is currently one of the largest contributors of personnel on UN missions.

## Historical outline 1960–1994

While Rwanda was a Belgian colony administered as a part of Ruanda-Urundi, its security was provided by the Force Publique, the colonial army of the Belgian Congo. As the Congo was due to achieve independence in 1960 and withdraw its forces, the Belgian Special Resident decided to create an indigenous army to provide for Rwanda's security. On 19 May 1960, he ordered the recruitment of a 650-strong military force to become the Garde Territoriale. The force was later renamed the Garde Nationale. The U.S. Army's Area Handbook for Rwanda, compiled in 1968–9, describes the security forces of Rwanda in 1969 as the 2,500 strong National Guard and the National Police, about 1,200 strong.
The Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) was the national army of Rwanda until July 1994, when the government collapsed in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide and the war with the Rwandan Patriotic Front (Inkotanyi). The FAR was estimated at 7,000 strong, including approximately 1,200 members of the Gendarmerie. Elite troops included the Presidential Guard, estimated at between 1,000 and 1,300 troops, as well as the Paracommando and Reconnaissance units. These two units were of battalion strength by 1994, and then counted a total of 800 troops.
In response to the RPF invasion of 1990, the 5,000-man FAR rapidly expanded, with French training assistance (as many as 1,100 French troops were in Rwanda at a time), to some 30,000 by 1992.
The Arusha Accords, signed on 4 August 1993, laid out a detailed plan for the integration of the Rwandan Government and Rwandan Patriotic Front military forces. The Rwandan government was to provide 60% of the troops for the new integrated army, but would have to share command positions with the RPF down to the level of battalion. The new army was to consist of no more than 19,000 soldiers and 6,000 Gendarmerie. However radical elements within the Rwandan government were implacably opposed to implementation of the Accords and, instead, began the planning that would lay the foundations for the genocide.
The Reconnaissance Battalion's commander, François-Xavier Nzuwonemeye, and his subordinates played a key role during the genocide. Together with the Reconnaissance Battalion, the Paracommando Battalion under Major Aloys Ntabakuze and the Presidential Guard under Major Protais Mpiranya became the three most significant genocidare units.
Col. Marcel Gatsinzi was briefly named chief of staff of the Rwandan army from 6 to 16 April 1994, but was replaced by Augustin Bizimungu, who was also promoted to major general on 18 April, since Col. Gatsinzi opposed the genocide. Bizimungu was only briefly chief of staff before fleeing the country. Many soldiers of the FAR have since been implicated by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in the genocide, including its leader during the genocide, Col. Théoneste Bagosora, who was chief of the cabinet (private office) of the Ministry of Defence prior to the genocide.
Many elements of the former Rwandan regime, including soldiers of the FAR, fled to eastern Zaire after the RPF victory, where they formed the Rassemblement Démocratique pour le Rwanda (RDR), which later became the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which is still active in eastern Congo's North Kivu Province.

## Post-1994 operations
### Second Congo War, 1998 to 2003

Circa 2000 during the Second Congo War, the Rwanda Patriotic Army unofficially admitted to having 4,000 to 8,000 troops deployed in the Congo, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, but this was believed to be a substantial understatement. The International Crisis Group estimated that the RPA had between 17,000 and 25,000 troops deployed in the Congo. In April 2001, a United Nations report on the exploitation of the Congo, said the RPA had a minimum of 25,000 troops in the Congo, an estimate the report attributes to "military specialists with a great deal of experience in the region." During the deployment in the DRC, Rwandan forces fought the so-called "Six-Day War" against Ugandan forces over the city of Kisangani, leaving at least 1,000 dead.
On 17 September 2002, the first Rwandan soldiers were withdrawn from the eastern DRC. On 5 October Rwanda announced the completion of its withdrawal; MONUC confirmed the departure of over 20,000 Rwandan soldiers.

### Ongoing insurgency

There is an ongoing, low-level insurgency from Rwandan rebels based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; mainly the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (or FDLR) During early 2009 the RDF operated in eastern DRC against FDLR rebels in joint operations with the armed forces of the DRC. The initial 2009 deployment was code-named Operation Umoja Wetu. The RDF re-entered the DRC in 2009 to assist the DRC in putting down the Dongo Rebellion. These operations inside the DRC did not prevent cross-border attacks within Rwanda during late 2012, August 2013, December 2018 and December 2019.
There has also been a small number of attacks in southern Rwanda from Burundi-based rebels. These attacks are usually blamed on the National Forces of Liberation (Forces nationales de libération), or FNL. The FNL is the armed wing of an externally-based opposition party: the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change, or MRCD, which was formed by Paul Rusesabagina and Callixte Nsabimana. Rusesabagina is considered by some to be a hero of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide and his actions are portrayed in the Hollywood film 'Hotel Rwanda'. Rusesabagina and Nsabimana were kidnapped and flown to Kigali, where they were arrested, in September 2020. Their trial continues. Incursions into southern Rwanda by armed members of the FNL occurred in 2018 and 2019 and, more recently, on 27 June 2020 and 23 May 2021.
The Rwanda National Congress is another opposition group reported by the Kigali Government as carrying out attacks in Rwanda. These include blame for grenade attacks in Rwanda between 2010 and 2014 that killed at least 17 people and injured over 400 others.

### Mozambique

On 9 July 2021, a 1000-strong joint Rwandan military police force started deploying to northern Mozambique to assist the national security forces in combating Islamic extremists. The Joint Task Force was commanded by Maj. Gen. Innocent Kabandana and initially comprised 700 soldiers and 300 police. The Rwandan deployment to Mozambique under a bilateral agreement pre-empted a long-planned Southern African Development Council (SADC) military operation.
The Joint Task Force was soon in action and within the month was reported to have overrun a terrorist base and inflicted casualties. In August 2021 it was reported that the contingent had eliminated 14 insurgents in total. The port town of Mocimboa da Praia was then recaptured from insurgents.
Operations then became more scattered across the northern province, and President Kagame announced in February 2022 that 80% of the enemy occupied Cabo Delgado province had been recaptured since mid-2021. At this time the Rwandan Joint Task Force was commanded by Brig. Gen. P. Muhizi.
The Joint Task Force was reported to have increased to 2,500 personnel in December 2022 and, in January 2023, the commander was Maj. Gen. Eugene Nkubito.
On 4 August 2023, there was a change of command when Maj. Gen. Alexis Kagame assumed command of the Joint Task Force from Maj. Gen Eugene Nkubito and the Task Force Battle Group (TFBG) commander Brig. Gen. F. Mutembe handed over to Col. T. Bahizi, the incoming TFBG 3 Commander.

### Peacekeeping support operations

The RDF has deployed forces on a number of UN and AU-endorsed peacekeeping support operations in Africa. Rwanda is now one of the largest contributors of personnel on UN missions. Deployments include the following:
African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS): Units were deployed on year-long tours of duty between August 2004 and December 2007. The peak commitment was four battalions.
United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS): In the first ever deployment of Rwandan personnel on a United Nations mission, a small contingent of 254 personnel was deployed for year-long tours between November 2005 and September 2010.
African Union/ United Nations Hybrid Mission to Darfur (UNAMID): This UN mission superseded the AU mission in the Darfur region of Sudan. Infantry battalions have been deployed, for year-long tours, between January 2008 and mid-2020. Starting with a peak deployed strength of four battalions, the numbers had declined by mid-2020 to two battalions.
United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS): In April 2012 a Rwandan contingent was deployed to this UN mission in the newly independent country of South Sudan. The deployment was continuing in mid-2020, by when an aviation unit, two infantry battalions and a Regional Protection Force battalion were deployed.
AU-led International Support Mission to the CAR (MISCA): This African Union mission to the troubled Central African Republic was joined, between January and September 2014, by a Rwandan mechanised battalion.
United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA): This UN mission superseded the AU-led mission in the Central African Republic. Rwanda provides a protection battalion in the capital of Bangui, a level two hospital in the town of Bria and, from September 2017, a battle group comprising a mechanised infantry battalion. During August 2021 the Rwandan was expanded again, when a third Rwandan infantry battalion was deployed to the CAR.

## Command

The RDF command comprises the following:
* The chief of defense staff: General Mubarakh MUGANGA
* Army Chief of Staff: Maj Gen Vincent NYAKARUNDI
* Air Force Chief of Staff: Lt Gen Jean-Jacques MUPENZI
* Medical Health Service Chief of Staff: Maj Gen Dr Ephrem RURANGWA
* Reserve Force Chief of Staff: Maj Gen Alex KAGAME
* High Command Council of the RDF
* General Staff of the RDF

## Organisation

The RDF comprises the Rwanda Army (Land Forces), the Rwanda Air Force (Air Forces), the Military Health Service, the Rwanda Reserve Force and Special Units.
The RDF structure reflects a Joint Headquarters; Commands and Institutions placed directly under the CDS; Service Headquarters and various staff groups.

### Training establishments

Major training centres include:
* RDF Command and Staff College, Nyakinama (Musanze District, Northern Province)
* Rwanda Military Academy, Gako (Bugesera District, Eastern Province)
* School of Infantry (Combat Training Centre), Gabiro
* Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC), Nasho (Kirehe District, Eastern Province)

## Land Forces

Several sources, including Gérard Prunier, document U.S. aid to the RPA before the First Congo War. The officially admitted part of the training was Joint Combined Exchange Training. Prunier strongly implies the United States supplied communications equipment, vehicles, boots, and medicines to the RPA before the war began and after it broke out, delivered second-hand Warsaw Pact weapons and ammunition either directly to Goma or by airdrop along the AFDL front lines. He reports that after the war's outbreak, the U.S. Air Force had switched from using C-141 Starlifters and C-5 Galaxys to deliver the non-lethal aid to Kigali Airport and Entebbe Airport, to airdrops by C-130 Hercules aircraft.
From July 1994 until December 1997 the RPA had six brigades, as designated in the Arusha Accords: 402nd in Kigali and Kigali Rurale Prefecture; 201st in Kibungo, Umatura, and Byumba Prefectures; 301st in Butare, Gikongoro, and Cyangugu Prefectures; 305th in Gitatama and Kibuye Prefectures; and 211th in Gisenyi and Ruhengeri Prefectures. The brigade boundaries mirrored the political administrative boundaries, which often complicated military operations. During the First Congo War the brigade headquarters remained inside Rwanda but directed operations inside the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Jane's World Armies said in July 2009 that the RDF is deployed to protect the country's borders and defend against external aggression. There are four divisions, each deploying three brigades:
* 1 Division, based at Kigali, covers the central and east region;
* 2 Division, based at Byumba, covers the north and east region;
* 3 Division, based at Gisenyi, covers the northwest region; and
* 4 (Mechanised) Division, based at Butare, covers the southwest region.
* Artillery Division
Brigades reported include:
* Republican Guard Brigade, Kigali
* Special Forces Brigade
* Engineering Brigade
* 201 Brigade, Kibungo
* 204 Brigade, Gasabo District, Kigali
* 211 Brigade, Gisenyi
* 301 Brigade, Butare
* 305 Brigade, Gitatama
* 307 Brigade
* 402 Brigade, Kigali
* 408 Brigade, Rusizi District
* 411 Brigade
* 501 Brigade
* 503 Brigade
* 511 Brigade, Gicumbi District
Many soldiers from the former Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR), the national army under the previous regime, have been incorporated into the RDF since 1994. This process began soon after the genocide in January 1995, when several former FAR officers were given senior positions in the new armed forces: Col. (later Gen.) Marcel Gatsinzi became the Deputy Chief of Staff of the RPA, Col. Balthazar Ndengeyinka became commander of the 305th Brigade, Lt. Col. Laurent Munyakazi took command of the 99th Battalion, and Lt. Col. (later Brig. Gen.) Emmanuel Habyarimana became an RPA Member of Parliament and Director of Training in the Ministry of Defence. Gen. Gatsinzi later became Director of Security and then Minister of Defence in 2002.

## Marine Unit

The Rwandan Land Forces also contain a marine unit which operates on Lake Kivu. The unit utilizes several Fabio Buzzi powerboats equipped as fast attack craft, each armed with a single Chinese Type-85 heavy machine gun. In 2021, Rwanda deployed several of the powerboats to operate in littoral waters in the Indian Ocean as part of its deployment to support Mozambique during the Insurgency in Cabo Delgado.

## Air Force

After achieving independence in 1962, the air arm (Force aérienne rwandaise) was formed with Belgian help. By 1972 the first modern equipment started to arrive in the form of seven Alouette IIIs. Other deliveries included Aérospatiale Gazelle, Britten-Norman Islanders, Nord Noratlas, SOCATA Guerrier armed light planes and Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil. After fighting began between the RPA and the government in 1990 most aircraft were shot down, destroyed on the ground or crashed. Few survived.
Flight International's World Air Forces 2017 states the Rwandan Air Force has twelve Mil Mi-8/17 helicopters, five Mil Mi-24 and four Aerospatiale Gazelle SA.342.
During December 2012 an aviation unit of three helicopters was sent to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The Rwandan Aviation Unit was subsequently increased to six helicopters – reportedly Mi-17.

### Aircraft

| Type | Manufacturer | Origin | Class | Role | In service |
| Mi-24 | Mil | Soviet Union | Helicopter | Attack | 5 | Mi-28 | Mil | Soviet Union | Helicopter | Attack | n/a |
| Mi-35 | Mil | Soviet Union | Helicopter | Attack | n/a |
| Mi-8/17 | Mil | Soviet Union | Helicopter | Transport | n/a |
| Diamond DA42 Twin Star | Diamond Aircraft Industries | Austria | Utility | Transport | 2 |
| Cessna 208 EX | Cessna | United States | Utility | Transport | 2 |
| Unmanned aerial vehicle |||||||
| Bayraktar TB2 | Baykar | Turkey | Unmanned aerial vehicle | UAV | n/a |

## Equipment
### Armoured fighting vehicles

| Model | Origin | In service |
| Main battle tanks |||||
| T-55 | Soviet Union | 24 |
| Tiran-5 | Israel | 10 |
| Reconnaissance |||||
| AML-90 | France | 90 |
| Infantry fighting vehicle |||||
| BMP-1 | Soviet Union | 20 |
| Ratel-IFV | South Africa | 13+ Ratel-23 10 Ratel-60 15 Ratel-90 |
| Armoured personnel carrier |||||
| BTR-60 | Soviet Union | 20 |
| Panhard M3 | France | 10 |
| WZ-551 | China | 20 |
| Mine-Resistant ambush protected vehicle |||||
| RG-31 Nyala | South Africa | 40 |
| Infantry mobility vehicle |||||
| Cobra | Turkey | 46 Cobra I 30 Cobra II |
| Cobra II | Turkey | 46 Cobra I 30 Cobra II |
| Véhicule Blindé Léger | France | 15 |

### Engineering and maintenance vehicles

| Model | Image | Origin | In service | Notes |
| Armoured recovery vehicle |||||
| T-54/T-55 ARV | | Soviet Union | 3 | |

### Anti-tank/anti-infrastructure

| Model | Image | Origin | caliber | In service | Notes |
| Anti-tank and air-to-surface missile ||||||
| HJ-9A | | China | 120mm | N/A | on Cobra |

### Artillery

| Model | Origin | caliber | In service |
| Mortar ||||||
| L16 81mm mortar | UK | 81mm | 115 |
| M1938 mortar | Soviet Union | 82mm | 115 |
| Soltam K6 | Israel | 120mm | 115 |
| Self-propelled howitzer ||||||
| CS/SH-1 | China | 122mm | 12 |
| Towed howitzer ||||||
| M101 howitzer | United States | 105mm | 10 |
| D-30 | Soviet Union | 122mm | 6 |
| Type-54 | China | 152mm | 30 |
| ATMOS 2000 | Israel | 155mm | 5 |
| Multiple rocket launcher ||||||
| RM-70 | Czechoslovakia | 122mm | 5 |
| LAR-160 | Israel | 160mm | 5 |

### Air defence

| Name | Origin | caliber | In service |
| Surface-to-air missile ||||||
| 9K32 Strela-2 | Soviet Union | 72mm | N/A |
| Towed anti aircraft gun ||||||
| ZPU-4 | Soviet Union | 14.5×114mm | 150 |
| ZU-23-2 | Soviet Union | 23mm | 150 |
| M-1939 | Soviet Union | 37mm | 150 |

### Small arms

| Name | Type | Origin | Caliber |
| FN FAL | Battle rifle | Belgium | 7.62x51mm NATO |
| AKM | Assault rifle | Soviet Union | 7.62x39mm |
| Vektor R5 | Assault rifle | South Africa | 5.56×45mm NATO |
| IWI Tavor | Assault rifle | Israel | 5.56×45mm NATO |
| Type 56 assault rifle | Assault rifle | China | 7.62x39mm |
| FB MSBS Grot | Assault rifle | Poland | 7.62x39mm |
| Zastava M76 | Sniper rifle | Yugoslavia | 7.92×57mm Mauser |
| M2 Browning | Heavy machine gun | United States | .50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO) |
| DShK | Heavy machine gun | Soviet Union | 12.7×108mm |
| Vektor SS-77 | General purpose machine gun | South Africa | 7.62×51mm NATO |
| PKM | General purpose machine gun | Soviet Union | 7.62×54mmR |
| IMI Uzi | Submachine gun | Israel | 9mm Parabellum |
| Browning Hi-Power | Semi-automatic weapon | Belgium | 9mm Parabellum |
| RPG-7 | Rocket launcher | Soviet Union | |

## Characteristics
### Marching style

Despite not being a former British colony, Rwanda has generally used British foot drill during official parades and functions. Since 2019, however, the RDF has adopted the Chinese variant of the goosestep, which is today mostly used by countries in Central and Eastern Europe, by communist countries, as well as by countries with a large Prussian/German influence (Russia, China and Chile all being examples of each). It was first displayed in April during the military parade in honor of the Rwandan genocide's silver jubilee on Liberation Day, in which over 1,500 RDF soldiers and policemen trained by six members of the Beijing Garrison Honor Guard Battalion of the People's Liberation Army's Central Theater Command marched while using the goosestep. Mandarin parade commands are used, such as "Look to the right!" to which the soldiers respond with "One! Two!", which is done similarly in the PLA honor guard. Prior to this, only the rebels utilized the goosestep during the Civil War, as they received military training in the neighboring country of Uganda, which uses the goosestep.

### RDF Band

The Rwanda Defence Forces Army Band is the military band of the RDF. The RDF Band was founded in 1992 during the Rwandan Civil War and gave its first performance on 8 March 1992. After the war, it was re-established with 46 members. Although it represents the defence forces, it falls under the command of the Land Forces.

## Endnotes

* ↑ "World Defence Almanac". Military Technology. XXXII (1). Bonn, Germany: Monch Publishing Group. 2008. ISSN 0722-3226.
* 1 2 3 4 "Rwanda". The World Factbook. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
* 1 2 IISS 2016, p. 462.
* ↑ Lemarchand 1970, p. 280.
* ↑ Richard F,. Nyrop, 'Area Handbook for Rwanda,' DA 550-84, research completed 1 April 1969, p.184-185
* ↑ Des Forges, 1999, p.43
* ↑ Des Forges, 1999, p.194
* ↑ Prunier, The Rwanda Crisis, p.163, cited in Des Forges, 1999, p.118
* ↑ Alison Des Forges, 'Leave None to Tell the Story,' Human Rights Watch, March 1999, ISBN 1-56432-171-1, p.60
* ↑ See Arusha Accords, hosted at University of Ulster, pages 49–71
* ↑ Des Forges, 1999, p.124-125
* ↑ Guichaoua, André (2015). From War to Genocide: Criminal Politics in Rwanda, 1990–1994. University of Wisconsin Press. p. 251. ISBN 978-0-299-29820-3.
* ↑ Des Forges, 1999, p. 264
* ↑ "The Rwandan patriotic Army and Military Commercialism in Eastern Congo" (PDF). Retrieved 24 October 2019.
* ↑ United Nations Security Council, Report of the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, S/2001/357, 12 April 2001
* ↑ 'Militia Leader Wanted for War Crimes Killed in Congo', Voice of America (Washington, DC), 19 September 2019.
* ↑ "Burundi rebels killed in clashes with DR Congo troops". Defenceweb. Reuters. 15 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
* ↑ Munyaneza, James (2 October 2020). "Victims of MRCD-FLN attacks in southern Rwanda". 'The New Times', Kigali. Retrieved 18 February 2021
* ↑ "Paul Rusesabagina admits backing rebels, denies violence'". Aljazeera (Doha). 25 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
* 1 2 Munyaneza, James (24 May 2021). "Rwanda army says foils attack near Burundi border". The New Times. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
* ↑ Munyaneza 2020.
* ↑ Press Release on Ruheru/Nyaruguru Attack (Updated), Ministry of Defence (Kigali), 27 June 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2020
* ↑ Munyaneza 2021.
* ↑ Kleinfeld, P. (2019) In Eastern Congo, a Local Conflict Flares as Regional Tensions Rise, The New Humanitarian (Geneva), 28 October 2019.
* ↑ Karuhanga, J. (2019) 'A Glimpse at Anti-Rwanda Militia Groups in Eastern DR Congo', The New Times (Kigali), 10 December 2019.
* ↑ Bishumba, N. (2019) 'Ugandans, Burundians Among Captured RNC Militia Combatants', The New Times (Kigali), 2 October 2019.
* ↑ Karuhanga, J. (2021) 'Rwanda Deployment to Mozambique Mission Specific, Not Time Specific – RDF', The New Times (Kigali), 10 July 2021.
* ↑ Vieira, A. (2021) 'Rwandan Troops Arrive in Mozambique to Help Fight Insurgents', The Nation (Nairobi), 11 July 2021.
* ↑ 'Rwandan Forces Will Only Leave When Mission Is Over,' Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo), 12 July 2021.
* ↑ 'Rwandan Forces Will Only Leave When Mission Is Over', Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo), 12 July 2021.
* ↑ 'SADC to Deploy Troops in Mozambique', The Herald (Harare), 24 June 2021.
* ↑ Karuhanga, James (27 July 2021). "Mozambican, Rwandan troops overrun major insurgents base in Cabo Delgado". The New Times. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
* ↑ Mangwiro, C. (2021) 'Govt Says Influx of African Troops Will Target Cabo Delgado Insurgents', Voice of America (Washington, DC), 30 July 2021.
* ↑ Martin, Guy (3 August 2021). "Rwanda says it has killed 14 insurgents in Mozambique". defenceWeb. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
* ↑ 'Cabo Delgado – a Closer Look at Rwanda-Mozambican Forces’ Joint Operations', The New Times (Kigali), 16 August 2021.
* ↑ 'Security Problems in DR Congo Affect the Whole Region – Kagame', The New Times (Kigali), 8 February 2022.
* ↑ 'RWANDA SECURITY FORCES (RSF) AND FORÇAS ARMADAS DE DEFENSA DE MOÇAMBIQUE (FADM) DISMANTLE NEW TERRORIST HIDEOUTS', Ministry of Defence, Kigali, 14 February 2022
* ↑ Bahati, Moise M. (22 February 2023). "Rwanda, Mozambique step up fight against terrorism – President Nyusi". The New Times. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
* ↑ "'MOZAMBIQUE'S DEFENCE MINISTER VISITS RWANDA SECURITY FORCES IN MOCIMBOA DA PRAIA, CABO DELGADO PROVINCE'". Ministry of Defence, Kigali. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
* ↑ Ministry of Defence, Kigali, website, 31 July 2023, "RDF ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF SEES OFF RELIEF FORCE DEPARTING TO CABO DELGADO, MOZAMBIQUE"
* ↑ Ministry of Defence, Kigali, website, 4 August 2023, "MAJ GEN ALEX KAGAME TAKES OVER THE JOINT TASK FORCE COMMAND IN MOZAMBIQUE"
* ↑ Akanga, E. (2005) 'Sudan UN Mission Force Set to Leave', The New Times (Kigali), 20 November 2005.
* ↑ 'Rwanda deploys peacekeeping troops to the Central African Republic', Ministry of Defence website, Kigali, 15 January 2014.
* ↑ Waugh, L. (2014) Central African Republic: Will MINUSCA Deployment Make a Difference in CAR? African Arguments, 15 September 2014.
* ↑ "Rwanda deploys an additional Infantry Battalion to MINUSCA". Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
* ↑ Rwandan Ministry of Defence, Law Establishing Rwanda Defence Forces, LAW N° 19/2002 of 17 May 2002, J.O. n° 13, 1 July 2002
* ↑ Kagire, E. (2010) ‘240 Officer Cadets Pass-Out’, The New Times (Kigali), 26 March 2010.
* ↑ Karuhanga, J. (2011) ‘Gen. Karenzi to Head Nyakinama Military Academy’, The New Times (Kigali), 23 March 2011.
* ↑ Nkurunziza, S. & Musoni, E. (2012) ‘Senior Officers College Inaugurated’, The New Times (Kigali), 24 July 2012.
* ↑ Karinganire, E.D. (2012) ‘RDF Command and Staff College inaugurated’, Rwanda Focus (Kigali), 24 July 2012.
* ↑ Gerard Prunier, From Genocide to Continental War, 2009, p.126-127 and "Congo News Channel: Rwanda: Installing a US Protectorate in Central Africa the US was behind the Rwandan Genocide". Archived from the original on 22 October 2009. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
* ↑ Gerard Prunier, From Genocide to Continental War: The "Congolese" Conflict and the Crisis of Contemporary Africa, C. Hurst & Co, 2009, ISBN 978-1-85065-523-7, p.127, citing author's direct personal observation and several interviews with journalists, both local and foreign, in Kigali and Kampala, 1995 and 1996, for the Kigali/Entebbe report, and interviews with DGSE officers, Paris, May 1997, and UPDF officers, Kampala, November 1997 for the C-130 airdrop report.
* ↑ Rick Orth (former United States Army attache in Rwanda), Rwanda's Hutu Extremist genocidal Insurgency: An Eyewitness Perspective, Small Wars & Insurgencies, Volume 12, Number 1, Spring 2001, pp. 76–109 (34), note 67, page 108
* ↑ Orth, 2001, note 67, page 108
* ↑ Jane's World Armies: Rwanda, Role and Deployment,' July 2009
* ↑ RDF Press Release – Appointments and Changes WIthin RDF REF: RDF/MPR/A/07/02/19; 9 April 2019
* ↑ Munyaneza, J. (2019) ‘Gen Mupenzi Named New Army Chief of Staff, The New Times (Kigali), 9 April 2019.
* ↑ Munyaneza, J. (2019) ‘General Kazura Replaces General Nyamvumba as Kagame Shakes Up Top Military Brass’, The New Times (Kigali), 5 November 2019
* ↑ Cooper, Tom, Great Lakes Conflagration: The Second Congo War, 1998–2003, Helion & Co, United Kingdom, 2013.
* ↑ RDF Special Operations Forces donate blood as part of Army Week activities, Ministry of Defence Kigali, 6 May 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017
* ↑ Munyaneza op cit.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cooper op cit.
* ↑ ‘19 Infantry Battalion relieved from peacekeeping mission in South Sudan’, Ministry of Defence, Kigali, 19 March 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2017
* ↑ 'RDF continues alternating its peacekeepers in South Sudan', Ministry of Defence Kigali, 11 March 2019
* 1 2 ‘Rwanda Defence Force completes rotation for peacekeepers deployed in Zalinge – Darfur’, Ministry of Defence Kigali, 19 December 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2018
* ↑ Bizimungu, J. (2020) ‘Kagame Promotes Two Senior Military Officers’, The New Times, Kigali, 9 July 2020.)
* ↑ ‘RDF 408 Brigade get Brigade Medical Clinic’, Ministry of Degfence, Kigali, 20 August 2015.
* ↑ Orth 2001
* ↑ "H I Sutton - Covert Shores". www.hisutton.com.
* ↑ World Aircraft Information Files Brightstar Publishing London File 338 sheet 4
* ↑ "World Air Forces 2017". FlightGlobal: 14. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
* ↑ 'Rwanda deploys Aviation Units in UN Mission in South Sudan', RDF website, 27 December 2012, viewed 13 February 2013.
* ↑ 'Female Rwandese pilots deployed with UNMISS', RDF website reprinted from UNMISS News Issue 4, 16 April 2015, viewed 20 April 2015.
* ↑ Hoyle, Craig (2024). "World Air Forces 2025". Flight Global. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 International Institute for Strategic Studies (13 February 2024). The Military Balance 2024 (1st ed.). Routledge. p. 513. ISBN 978-1032780047.
* 1 2 3 4 Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35th edition (27 January 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
* ↑ "Arming Rwanda: The Arms Trade and Human Rights, Abuses in the Rwandan War" (PDF). Human Rights Watch Arms Project. Vol. 6, no. 1. January 1994. p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
* ↑ "Rifle R4 – Assault Rifle / Carbine – History, Specs and Pictures – Military, Security and Civilian Guns and Equipment". Militaryfactory.com. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
* ↑ "تقرير إعلامي موجز: عيارات نارية في أيدي متمردي جمهورية الكونغو الديمقراطية مصدرها اليونان والصين وروسيا والولايات المتحدة | منظمة العفو الدولية". 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 6 December 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
* ↑ "The Jazz Singer: IWI Tavor Review – Guns & Ammo". Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
* ↑ Rwanda Archived 17 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine
* ↑ Świerkowski, Adam (2 August 2024). "Polski Grot w rwandyjskiej służbie". defence24.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 27 January 2025.
* ↑ Sgt. Thomas Mills (16 January 2014). "More images from Rwandan Airlift Mission". US Army Africa. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
* ↑ Albert Gonzalez Farran (10 February 2014). "WFP food distribution". UNAMID. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
* ↑ "Human Rights Watch (Jan '94): Arming Rwanda" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
* ↑ "Rwandan troops trained by China mark genocide anniversary". Inkstone. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
* ↑ "Chinese guards of honor help Rwandan troops complete military parade marking liberation anniversary – China Military". english.chinamil.com.cn. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
* ↑ Parker, Allison (2002). Hidden in Plain View: Refugees Living Without Protection in Nairobi and Kampala. New York, NY: Human Rights Watch. p. 89. ISBN 978-1-56432-281-4. The RPF had very close ties with the Ugandan government as many of its leaders came from the exiled Tutsi community in Uganda and had become an important force within Museveni's rebel force ... As a result, many members of the elite in Rwanda look back on a period of military training in Uganda, and retain close links with the Ugandan military.
* ↑ Kidz, Cool Classic (4 February 2011). "The Rwandan Defence Force Army Band receive training from the SA Army Band Cape Town". SA Army Band Cape Town. Retrieved 6 September 2019.