Kigali, 27 January 2020

Rwandan peacekeepers serving under the United Nations (UN) Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) as well as in the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA from its French acronym Mission Multidimensionnelle Intégrée des Nations Unies pour la Stabilisation en Centrafrique) over the week-end on Friday were decorated with UN medals in recognition of their contribution to maintaining peace and stability in their respective UN missions after a one-year tour of duty.

In South Sudan, the medal decoration ceremony was held at the Rwandan Contingent Headquarters (67 Mechanized Infantry Battalion or Rwanbatt3 in UN nomenclature) while in CAR it took place in Bangui at the Headquarters of 31 Infantry Battalion (Rwanbatt6).  Both ceremonies were presided over by high level UN officials, UN staff and Rwandans from the diaspora in the above countries.

 “Your service makes a positive and tangible difference in the lives of people of South Sudan”, said Mr Moustapha Soumaré, the UNMISS Deputy Special Representative (D/SRSG) of the UN Secretary General.

In Bangui, the SRSG of MINUSCA Mankeur Ndiaye also congratulated and thanked Rwandan peacekeepers for their work towards bringing back peace in CAR.   “I would like to recognize the commendable efforts of everyone here on parade. Your efforts and professionalism are highly regarded, wear these medals as proud and worthy ambassadors of your country and of the United Nations,” he said.

Currently, Rwanda is the third biggest Troop Contributing Country (TCC) in support of United Nations Peace Support Operations (UN PSO) and RDF maintains two Infantry Battalions and a Mechanised Infantry Battalion (UNMISS), an Infantry Battalion and a Mechanised Infantry Battle Group (MINUSCA); an Aviation Unit (UNMISS), a Level II Field Hospital (MINUSCA) and an Infantry Battalion plus two companies (UNAMID) with a total of 5217 military personnel.