On August 5, 634 new soldiers, including 55 females, were enrolled in the Central African Republic Armed Forces (FACA) after completing seven months of basic military training.
President of the Central African Republic, Prof Faustin Archange Touadera, expressed his appreciation for the successful military partnership between Rwanda and the CAR.
The new soldiers were trained by the Rwanda Defence Force in collaboration with FACA.
The pass-out ceremony that took place at Camp Kassaï military Barrack, Bangui city was presided over by H.E Prof Faustin Archange Touadera, the President of Central African Republic, and was attended by Maj. Gen. Vincent Nyakarundi, the RDF Army Chief of Staff.
While addressing the media, the President of the Central African Republic, Prof Faustin Archange Touadera, expressed his appreciation for the successful military partnership between Rwanda and the Central African Republic.
He specifically thanked President Paul Kagame and Rwanda Defence Force leadership for unbending support, and acknowledged the positive outcomes of the collaboration, recalling the recent pass-out of trained young soldiers currently serving in FACA.
He further stressed that some FACA soldiers are trained in Rwanda and others in CAR.
“Sincerely, I would like to thank my brother Paul Kagame for his cooperation,” Touadera told journalists at the end of the pass-out ceremony.
The Chief of General Staff of the Central African Armed Forces, Maj. Gen. Zephlin Mamadou stated that the new soldiers are welcome to join their colleagues who graduated last year to protect the national territorial integrity.
He expressed gratitude to H.E. Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda, for the unconditional military cooperation between Rwanda and CAR, which has yielded positive results.
“This graduation marks the second battalion trained by military instructors from the Rwanda Defence Force, with the ultimate objective of preventing the activities of the enemies of peace. “I have no doubt that the skills acquired during this course will help in protecting the country and its people,” said the General Chief of Staff (FACA).
Rwandan troops first deployed to CAR in January 2014. Rwanda now has more than 2,000 soldiers serving in CAR under the UN Peacekeeping mission.
They protect civilians, the country’s top leaders including President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, UN personnel and equipment, as well as strategic national facilities and areas including M’Poko International Airport.
Rwanda also maintains more than 1,000 soldiers deployed in CAR under a bilateral agreement.
CAR President Touadera Credits Rwanda’s Support in Successful Military Partnership
