Rwanda's Kagame Drops Army Boss in Latest Reshuffle

The President of Rwanda Paul Kagame has made yet sweeping changes in the top leadership of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), looking to rely more on younger officers.

In the fresh changes contained in a press release, Gen Jean-Bosco Kazura has been appointed the RDF Chief of Defence Staff replacing Gen Patrick Nyamvumba who has been appointed the minister of internal security.

Gen Nyamvumba who has been dropped from the army hierarchy had served as Chief of Defence Staff since June 2013. 

Gen Kazura who was promoted from Major General to full General had been serving as the Commandant of RDF Command and Staff College - Musanze.

This is the second time in two months that Mr Kagame is making changes in the RDF a move seen by observers as an attempt to remove some discontented army Generals from the top leadership. 

Just in September (Two Months ago) Kagame made appointments and changes within the RDF, appointing Maj Gen Emmanuel Bayingana as the Air Force Chief of Staff; Brig Gen Vincent Nyakarundi, as head of Defence Intelligence; and Col Andrew Nyamvumba, as the head of Defence Research and Development at the Ministry of Defence.

According to Mr David Himbara, a Rwandan that once served in Kagame's government, "General Paul Kagame is either arresting his generals or reshuffling them on a continuous basis," said Mr Himbara on his Medium account. 

READ MORE: Mistrust Cited as Kagame Shuffles top Army Chiefs

In the latest changes, Kagame also reappointed Gen Fred Ibingira as new Chief of Staff of the Reserve Force, a position he had held since 2010 before he was recently dropped last November.

Ibingira replaces Lt Gen Jacques Musemakweli who has been appointed the Inspector General of RDF.

In other changes, Maj Gen Innocent Kabandana has been moved from the position of Commander of Special Operations Force to that of Deputy Reserve Force Chief of Staff.

Meanwhile, Brig Didas Ndahiro who has been the Commander of Artillery Division has been appointed the new Commandant of RDF Command and Staff College. He replaces Gen Kazura-the new RDF Chief of Defence Staff.

Brig  Ephrem Rurangwa who has been serving as Chief of Logistics is now the new Commandant of Rwanda Military Academy while Brig James Ruzibiza has been promoted from Colonel and appointed Commander of Engineering Brigade. Ruzibiza had been the Chief  Civil-Military Relations.

Other changes

1. Karusisi Ruki promoted from Colonel to Brigadier and appointed Commander of Special Operations Force. He replaces Maj Gen Kabandana.  Brig Gen Ruki had been serving as Deputy Commander of Special Operations Force.

2.  Col Joseph Karegire - appointed Chief of Operations and Training. Col Karegire has been Commander of Military Police.

3. Col Faustin Kalisa - appointed Chief of Personnel. Col Kalisa has bee the Commander, Engineering Brigade.

4. Col Adolphe Simbizi - appointed Chief of Logistics. Col Simbizi was serving as Director, Patrimony at the Ministry of Defence.

5. Col Jean-Paul Karangwa - appointed Commander of Military Police.

6. Patrick Karuretwa - promoted to Colonel and appointed as Kagame's Principal Private Secretary.

7. Lt Col Emmanuel Kanobayire - promoted to Colonel and appointed Second in Command of Special Operations Force. He has been serving as a battalion commander in Special Operations Force.

8. Jules Rwirangira - promoted from Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel and appointed Commander of Artillery Division.

9. Lt Col Lausanne Ingabire - appointed Chief Civil-Military Relations. She has been serving as Director of Gender in the same unit.

10. Regis Rwagasana Sankara - promoted to Lieutenant Colonel