President Paul Kagame in the Monday evening reshuffle dropped Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Patrick Nyamvumba from his position and appointed him Minister of Internal Affairs.
In the changes which take immediate effect, President Kagame appointed, promoted and transferred 17 officers.
In the changes, aging officers were retired paving way for more youthful officers to take over.
According to political analysts, the appointment of Nyamvumba as Internal Affairs Minister underscores Kagame’s main focus – internal security amid regional security threats.
CHANGES AND DEPLOYMENTS IN THE RDF
1. MAJOR GENERAL JEAN BOSCO KAZURA IS PROMOTED TO GENERAL AND APPOINTED THE RDF CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF.
2. GENERAL FRED IBINGIRA IS APPOINTED THE RESERVE FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF.
3. LIEUTENANT GENERAL JACQUES MUSEMAKWELI IS APPOINTED THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF RDF.
4. MAJOR GENERAL INNOCENT KABANDANA IS APPOINTED THE DEPUTY RESERVE FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF.
5. BRIGADIER GENERAL DIDAS NDAHIRO IS APPOINTED THE COMMANDANT OF RDF COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE.
6. BRIGADIER GENERAL EPHREM RURANGWA IS APPOINTED THE COMMANDANT OF RWANDA MILITARY ACADEMY – GAKO.
7. COLONEL JAMES RUZIBIZA IS PROMOTED TO BRIGADIER GENERAL AND APPOINTED COMMANDER OF ENGINEERING BRIGADE.
8. COLONEL KARUSISI RUKI IS PROMOTED TO BRIGADIER GENERAL AND APPOINTED COMMANDER OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCE.
9. COLONEL JOSEPH KAREGIRE IS APPOINTED CHIEF J3 (OPERATIONS AND TRAINING).
10. COLONEL FAUSTIN KALISA IS APPOINTED CHIEF J1 (PERSONEL).
11. COLONEL ADOLPHE SIMBIZI IS APPOINTED CHIEF J4 (LOGISTICS).
12. COLONEL JEAN PAUL KARANGWA IS APPOINTED COMMANDER OF MILITARY POLICE.
13. LIEUTENANT COLONEL PATRICK KARURETWA IS PROMOTED TO COLONEL.
14. LIEUTENANT COLONEL EMMANUEL KANOBAYIRE IS PROMOTED TO COLONEL AND APPOINTED SECOND IN COMMAND OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCE.
15. LIEUTENANT COLONEL JULES RWIRANGIRA IS PROMOTED TO COLONEL AND APPOINTED COMMANDER OF ARTILLERY DIVISION.
16. LIEUTENANT COLONEL LAUSANNE INGABIRE IS APPOINTED CHIEF J9 (CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS).
17. MAJOR REGIS RWAGASANA SANKARA IS PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL.
