The Rwandan Peacekeeper, recently killed in an attack in the Central African Republic ( CAR), will be laid to rest tomorrow, Friday, at the Army Cemetery in Kanombe, Rwanda Defense Force (RDF).
The casket carrying the remains of the Rwandan peace keeper, Sergeant Major Edouard Nsabiyaremye, arrived in Rwanda from the troubled Central African country on 21 July 2020.
SM Nsabiyaremye, who served as part of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), was killed in northwestern CAR on 13 July 2020 during an attack by leaders of an armed group.
The President of the Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, accompanied by senior officials of MINUSCA, paid tribute to the deceased peacekeeper at M’Poko International Airport in Bangui before his body was airlifted to Rwanda.
“The RDF reiterates its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the fallen soldier,” RDF said in a statement, adding that “SM Nsabiyaremye will be laid to rest at Kanombe Military Cemetery on Friday, 24 July 2020,”.
Last week, RDF issued a statement mourning the death of Rwandan peacekeeper who was killed in an ambush on Monday last week.
RDF said it was deeply saddened by the death of a Rwandan peacekeeper, following an attack on 13 July 2020 by elements of an armed group,”
“The RDF expresses its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the fallen peacekeeper,” RDF said in a brief statement, adding that RDF peacekeepers remain committed to the protection of civilians within the mandate of MINUSCA, and the other peacekeeping missions under which Rwandan troops serve.
Last week, UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the killing of the Rwandan blue helmet.
Guterres strongly condemned the attack by armed elements of Return, Reclamation and Rehabilitation (3R) targeting the MINUSCA convoy in Gedze, Nana-Mambere prefecture in the northwest of the country.
Two of the Nsabiyaremye ‘s colleagues were injured in the attack.
“The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the family of the victim as well as to the people and Government of Rwanda. He wishes a speedy recovery to the injured,” a statement from Guterres’ office said.
The Secretary-General recalled that attacks against United Nations peacekeeping forces can constitute war crimes under international law.
He called on the authorities of the Central African Republic to spare no effort in finding the perpetrators of this attack so that they’ll be brought to justice quickly.
Guterres reiterated that the United Nations will continue to support national efforts to foster peace and stability in the Central African Republic, working closely with the country’s international partners.
MINUSCA, the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic, works to protect civilians and to facilitate transition processes.
The authorities and 14 militant groups, including 3R, concluded a Political Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in February 2019.
“This criminal attack constitutes a new violation of the peace agreement by the 3R & its leader Abass Sidiki”, the UN mission said on Twitter.
The head of UN Peacekeeping also condemned the attack, calling it a cowardly attack.
“This cowardly attack”, adding that “this crime must not go unpunished, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the head of MINUSCA said on Twitter, strongly condemning the attack.
Despite the killing of the Rwandan blue helmet, RDF Peacekeepers continued to participate in the presence of paramilitary parties. MINUSCA in a tweet revealed that, Wednesday night through Thursday morning, it launched and repulsed attacks in Gedze, Nana-Mambéré Prefecture, North West of the country.
The RDF contingent neutralized three elements of the Return, Reclamation and Rehabilitation (3R) group. The Peacekeepers recovered ammunition and weapons, including AK 47 and five RPG missiles.
Rwanda is the leading contributor to the MINUSCA peacekeeping force, with nearly 1,357 troops and 420 officers.