Kagame Shakes Up Army, Sacks Two Generals & 14 Officers

Rwanda President, Paul Kagame, has dismissed Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) senior officers Maj Gen Aloys Muganga, Brig Gen Francis Mutiganda.

According to a statement released by RDF on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, Muganga and Mutiganda were sacked together with 14 officers.

“He has also authorized the dismissal of 116 other ranks and approved the rescission of service contracts of 112 other ranks. The dismissals and rescission of service contracts take immediate effect,” the statement read.

Kagame then promoted Col Godfrey Gasana, the Deputy Air Force Chief of Staff, to the Rank of Brigadier General with immediate effect.

The newly appointed RDF Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt Gen Mubarakh Muganga, and RDF Army Chief of Staff (ACOS), Maj Gen Vincent Nyakarundi, officially assumed their responsibilities Tuesday after a handover ceremony that took place at RDF headquarters in Kimihurura.

The handover and takeover took place in the presence of selected RDF General and Senior Officers.

On Wednesday, June 7, 2023, the newly appointed Minister of Defence, Hon. Marizamunda Juvenal officially assumed his responsibilities after a handover ceremony that took place at RDF headquarters, Kimihurura.

The handover and takeover took place in the presence of the RDF Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs and selected RDF Generals and Senior Officers as well as officials of MoD.

On Thursday, he appointed Lt Col Simon Kabera as the new deputy army spokesperson.

A military purge?

RDF spokesman, Ronald Rvivanga, told local media that two long-serving generals, Muganga and Mutiganda, were sacked for “indiscipline”.

Muganga had been appointed commander of mechanised forces in 2019 while Mutiganda had been in charge of external security at the NISS until October 2018 when he was called back to RDF headquarters in an unspecified role.

“According to the law, this means that they have to hand over military equipment and leave the army without any benefits because of what they did,” he is quoted by AFP as saying.

He added: “Another 14 officers were also dismissed along with more than 200 others.”

Kagame also reshuffled top security bosses.

Jean Bosco Ntibitura was named director general in charge of internal security in the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).

Other changes were also made to command roles in the Rwandan force which has been deployed in Mozambique since 2021 to counter a militant insurgency.