EngRegional
Rwanda's military retirees leave a legacy of patriotism, dedication to nation
President
Paul Kagame yet again approved the retirement of several officers of the Rwanda
Defence Force (RDF), on August 30, including some top Generals who played a key
role in the liberation struggle and stopping the 1994 Genocide against the
Tutsi in Rwanda.
Those
set to retire did not stop at liberating the country. They diligently served
Rwanda for the three decades, as Defence Ministers, Chiefs of Defence Staff,
Security advisors, and in other senior capacities within the military.
Lately,
those retiring include two four-star generals, James Kabarebe and Fred
Ibingira, as well as two three-star generals, Charles Kayonga and Frank Mushyo Kamanzi.
The list also includes five Major Generals; Martin Nzaramba, Eric Murokore,
Augustin Turagara, Charles Karamba and Albert Murasira. There are three
Brigadier Generals, Chris Murari, Didace Ndahiro and Emmanuel Ndahiro.
Kabarebe, a Senior Presidential Advisor on Defence and Security,
who spoke on behalf of the retirees said that the current posture of the
RDF provides hope to every retiring officer that everything will continue in
the right direction. The retired officers committed
to continuing their contribution to Rwanda’s transformation through their
respective expertise and mentoring the younger generation which is tasked to sustain
the gains achieved by the retirees and fast-track the country’s development.
However,
the detractors of Rwanda who don’t understand a thing about Rwanda’s chosen
path and ways, were at it again, calling the move a ‘reaction to the spread of
military coups on the African continent’, or claiming that it is an effort to
halt any coup attempt in the country.
What
they forget to mention, or perhaps choose to ignore, is that by a Presidential Order,
an RDF non-commissioned officer, junior officer and senior officer are eligible
to retire at the age of 45, 50, and 55, respectively. In this case, all retired
Generals qualified for a well-deserved retirement.
The
retiring Generals were key in reconstructing a country that was left in ashes
by a Genocidal regime, in 1994.
They
eliminated all threats posed by the génocidaires who were determined to
complete their evil agenda.
The
retirees worked hand-in hand with President Paul Kagame to build the country,
taught young Rwandans unity not divisionism, collectively finding solutions to
issues in the country, accountability, and teamwork. All their collective
effort cannot go to waste.
Kabarebe,
for example, has often dedicated time to young Rwandans and inspired many to
tirelessly work for the country and be ready to pay any price for the country.
“We
have to protect our struggle. We have targets of having a country that is
economically transformed. We want to become a middle-income economy. To reach
this, it requires a lot. It is not wishful thinking; it requires us to bear the
burden,” Kabarebe said at a public lecture in October 2022.
Despite
the narrative being pushed by the detractors, for Rwandans, the retirement of
these gallant liberators is a continuation of a long tradition of passing the
baton to the younger generation.
Gen. Kabarebe
and others retired from active military service. They are not
abandoning the call to serve Rwanda.
