Future of peacekeeping operations; Rwanda’s mindset a gem

Author: Samson Kasujja

• 2023-06-09 05:21:00

The 10^th National Security Symposium held in Kigali from May 17 to 20, saw leaders of the Rwanda Defence Force sharing experience in peacekeeping as well as helping other African countries restore and maintain peace in volatile regions.

The discussions covered a variety of topics ranging from good governance, migration and brain drain, foreign interference, the Free Trade Area, digital technologies and peacekeeping operations. Over 300 participants shared experience on the subjects.

The former Chief of Defense Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force, Gen Jean Bosco Kazura, who discussed “the future of peacekeeping operations: trends and dynamics,” noted that African countries should find solutions to their own security challenges. The General reiterated that no one should wish to have foreign troops deployed in their country, because that indicates that the country is weak.

“Why can’t we do all we can to make sure, first of all, those forces are not deployed in our own countries?” 

Rwanda is the fourth largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN missions. As of March 2023, the country had more than 5,900 active personnel in UN missions including experts, formed police units, individual police officers, staff officers, and troops.

The east African country is also busy in bilateral military cooperation with the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mozambique to restore peace and security.

Related: Rwanda’s military intervention in Africa rebrands continent’s image

In December 2020, Rwanda deployed troops in CAR when the militia coalition formed by François Bozizé – former president from 2003 to 2013 – were advancing toward the country’s capital, Bangui, to disrupt elections and oust president Faustin-Archange Touadera.

When Rwanda intervened, it only took days to beat the militia blockade of the capital.

In July 2021, Rwanda also deployed troops in Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique, to fight the terrorists there, stabilize the area and restore state authority. Mozambican security forces had been fighting ISIS-linked terrorists since 2017 but failed to defeat them; leading to loss of over 3,700 lives and more than 800,000 people had fled their homes.

Within one month, Rwandan and Mozambican forces took back the port of Mocímboa da Praia from the terrorists who had controlled the port for over a year. People returned to their home, started working and engaging in all other socio-economic activities after five years living in fear and suffering due to terrorism.

“UN is doing what it can, but we can do better,” Gen Kazura said.

“For us to think about the future of peace keeping missions, we need also to think about their past and their present status.”

He noted that Africans need to go back in time and see what they had yesterday, what they have today and plan for what they want to have tomorrow.