The first elements of the Reconnaissance Company of the Mechanised Infantry Battalion heading to Juba in South Sudan left Rwanda on July 30 2017, by road through Uganda.
Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) sources said the Reconnaissance Company’s main body is expected to be airlifted from Kigali International Airport to Juba on August 5, 2017.
According to the RDF, the deployment follows a United Nations Security Council Resolution number 2304 (2016) adopted on August 12, 2016 that decided the deployment of a Regional Protection Force (RPF) to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
Its mandate is to provide a secure environment in and around Juba. Following the United Nations’ request, Rwanda accepted the deployment of a Mechanised Infantry Battalion and the proposal to first send in a Reconnaissance Company as an Advance Party to the near future deployment of the Battalion.
Rwanda maintains two Infantry battalions in Juba and Malakal and one Aviation Unit.
