Following the coup in Gabon on Wednesday, August 30, Rwanda and Cameroon have unveiled significant shifts in their security forces, impacting senior military personnel.
Military shifts in Rwanda
In Rwanda, President Paul Kagame retired hundreds of soldiers, coinciding with the advancement of young soldiers within the nation’s security framework.
New generals have also been appointed to lead army divisions situated across the country.
The Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) released a statement disclosing Kagame’s approval of the retirement of twelve generals, eighty-three senior officers, and six junior officers.
Additionally, eighty-six senior non-commissioned officers will be retired.
More retirees
About 678 soldiers retired as their contracts concluded, with 160 others medically discharged.
Prominent figures from Rwanda’s 1994 liberation war, including Gen. James Kabarebe, Gen. Fred Ibingira, and Lt. Gen. Charles Kayonga, are among the retirees.
Both Kabarebe and Kayonga previously held the position of chief of defense staff of the Rwandan army.
On the same day, Kagame elevated several young officers to the rank of colonel and designated new generals to lead military divisions.
Other retirees encompass Lt. Gen. Frank Mushyo Kamanzi, currently Rwanda’s ambassador to Russia, and Maj. Gen. Albert Murasira, a former defense minister.
In June, Kagame appointed Juvenal Marizamunda as the new defense minister, succeeding Albert Murasira, who had held the role since 2018.
Military shifts in Cameroon
In parallel, Cameroon President Paul Biya made major changes to the country’s ministry of defence.
Among the posts reshuffled were the delegate to the presidency in charge of defence, air force staff, navy, and the police.
He announced the changes on social media platform, X.
Biya aged 90 came to power in a coup d’etat in 1982 and has remained president since he rode to power.
Also, shortly after the Gabon coup, Rwanda’s defence force (RDF) announced on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter, that President Paul Kagame approved the retirement of 83 senior officers.
According to the RDF, Kagame also approved the promotion and appointment of some officers to replace the previous office holders.
Meetings between Rwanda’s chief of defence staff, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador to Rwanda, and the defence attaché of Cameroon were also held to discuss ways ‘to enhance defence cooperation between their respective countries’.
In 2015, Rwanda’s constitution was changed to allow Kagame to remain president until 2034.
The 65-year-old Kagame has been in power since 2000.
The decisions of Kagame and Biya to reshuffle their militaries came a few hours after soldiers seized power in Gabon, punctuating the 53-year hold on the country by President Ali Bongo’s family.
