By taking the head of the Minusca, Kigali advances its pawns in the Central African Republic

Valentine Rugwabiza, the new boss of Minusca in the Central African Republic.

AFP - GEORGES GOBET

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

In the Central African Republic, the Rwandan diplomat Valentine Rugwabiza should arrive in April to take the head of Minusca, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country.

With this appointment, Kigali strengthens its weight in UN bodies, but also its influence in CAR.

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With our correspondent in Bangui,

Carol Valade

From New York,

Valentine Rugwabiza

was already closely following the implementation of the Luanda roadmap.

This peace plan in the Central African Republic was supported by the CIRGL on Rwandan and Angolan impetus.

The ambassador, permanent representative of Rwanda to the United Nations in New York, has " 

great expertise on the Central African Republic

 ", indicates to justify her choice the United Nations Under-Secretary General in charge of peacekeeping operations, Jean -Pierre Lacroix.

The first contributors of troops to the Minusca, the Rwandans ensure the close protection of President Touadéra.

They are also responsible for securing the corridor to Cameroon, the capital's main supply route.

They also occupy key positions such as the direction of the DDR police or humanitarian coordination.

Agreements in the mining sector

The Minusca " 

is supposed to keep the peace, but it is bound hand and foot, 

" said President Paul Kagame

in 2021, in the columns of

Jeune Afrique .

Thus justifying the deployment of an additional battalion under a bilateral defense agreement.

In August 2021, the two countries signed several cooperation agreements in Kigali, particularly in the mining sector.

While in Bangui, some officers return in civilian clothes, says a source to invest in mining, agriculture, trade or even security.

We are peacekeeping.

We are used to working in contexts that are not always favorable and not totally friendly.

But our colleagues are experienced and brave.

They have our full support at headquarters

Jean-Pierre Lacroix (UN) returns to the arrest of the three French soldiers of the Minusca since released

Carol Valade

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  • Central African Republic

  • Rwanda

  • Minusca

  • Defense