About recent promotions and graduation in Rwanda Defense Forces

The Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) graduated a new intake of the Special Operation Force after completing a 10-month specialized combat training course at Nasho Basic Military Training Center in Kirehe district on Thursday, December 21.

The Rwanda Defense Forces announced that the ceremony was officiated by the RDF Chief of Defense Staff, CDS, Gen MK Mubarakh, on behalf of the commander-in-chief, H.E President Paul Kagame.

The RDF continues to state that CDS Gen MK Mubarakh who was recently promoted to the rank of full General by CIC Paul Kagame congratulated the new Special Forces cohort for upgrading their level of training and welcomed the graduates into the Special Forces Unit. He also thanked the instructors for their role in shaping the trainees and reminded them that discipline and values are the characteristics of an RDF soldier.

“You have undergone significant training, as demonstrated here. The skills acquired will enhance your performance. You must prioritize discipline above everything else. RDF is an army that values discipline, ethics, and values,” CDS told the graduates.

The ceremony was also attended by RDF senior commanders, including generals and senior officers.

Not only Mubarak who got promoted but also on December 19, President of the Republic of Rwanda who’s the commander-in-chief of RDF promoted other four Brigadier Generals to the rank of Major General.There are 17 soldiers who were promoted from the rank of Colonel to Brigadier General.

83 soldiers were promoted from the rank of Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel, while 98 soldiers were promoted from the rank of Major to Lieutenant Colonel.

Again, 295 soldiers were promoted from the rank of Captain to Major, 4 soldiers were promoted from the rank of Lieutenant to Captain, and 226 soldiers were promoted from non-commissioned officers’ ranks to Second Lieutenant.

Additionally the promotion saw 83 soldiers who were promoted from Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel, among them, there are specially seven women who for the first time in Rwanda crowned the rank of Colonel.

These women include Col Betty Dukuze and Kayirangwa Belina, who both work at the Rwanda Defense Headquarters, Seraphine Nyirasafari, who works in the Ministry of Defence, Marie Claire Muragijimana from the Construction Brigade, Lydia Bagwaneza from the Republican Guard, Lausanne N. Ingabire, who works at the Nyakinama Military College, and Stella Uwineza, who is in the Air Force.