Kigali, Rwanda, June 5, 2023: President Paul Kagame has made changes in Rwanda's Security organs. Among new appointees is Jean-Bosco Ntibitura who becomes new Director General of internal security at the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS)
From CHIMPREPORTS
Rwanda President Paul Kagame has replaced the country’s army chief and defence minister, Chimp Corps report.
In a statement issued on Tuesday morning, Kagame elevated Army Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Mubarakh Muganga to the position of Chief of Defence Staff, replacing Gen Jean Bosco Kazura.
Born in 1967, Muganga was appointed RDF Army Chief of Staff on 4 June 2021. Prior to that, he had been serving as 1 Division Commander.echo adrotate_group(48);
With more than 30 years in the military, Lieutenant General Muganga previously served as 4th Division Commander from 2008-2012, 3rd Division Commander from 2013-2015, 1st Division Commander, and Armed Forces Shop Board of Directors Chairman from 2016-2021.
Kagame also appointed Maj Gen Vincent Nyakarundi, who has been heading Defence Intelligence to replace Muganga as Army Chief of Staff.echo adrotate_group(89);
Nyakarundi worked closely with Uganda’s Senior Presidential Advisor in charge of Special Operations, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, in restoring relations between Uganda and Rwanda.
Muganga is said to have been coordinating clandestine military operations to counter the FDLR threat in Eastern Congo.
Gatarayiha previously served in Rwanda’s Directorate of Immigration and Emigration.
Kagame appears to be rewarding Nyakarundi and Gatarayiha who have been running espionage operations at a time of tense relations between Rwanda and some of its neighbours.
Brigadier General Evariste Murenzi will replace Marizamunda.
Murasira was the tenth Minister for Defence since Rwanda became independent in 1962.
The Minister for Defence is responsible to the Government for all matters concerning the Defence policy, the conduct of Defence and implementation of Defence programmes.
Maj Gen Alex Kagame, a battle-hardened commander who previously served as 3rd Division commander, has been appointed as Joint Task Force commander in charge of the Rwandan defence force military operation in Mozambique.
The terrorists have in recent months conducted deadly attacks on government forces. Maj Gen Kagame takes over from Maj Gen Eugine Nkubito.
Nkubito will head the 3rd Division.
Lt Col Augustin Migabo, who headed the Rwandan Contingent in the Central African Republic (CAR), has been promoted to the rank of Colonel and appointed Deputy Commander of the Special Force Command.
President Kagame also appointed Mr Jean Bosco Ntibitura, who has been serving as Head of Security Policy and Standards Department at the Internal Affairs Ministry as the new Director General of Internal Security (NISS).