Rwanda Defence Chief of staff, Lieutenant General Frank Mushyo Kamanzi was Appointed Force Commander of African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur early this month.

Definitely going to head AU forces in February 2016

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Frank Mushyo.  He has to commence his new post early next year 2016, Behind the presidential curtains revisited President Kagame’s mind to predict the next Chief of staff for the Rwanda armed forces.

First of all why was Lt Gen Kamanzi Mushyo’s name put forward when he is still in an important key position of the chief of staff?

  1. He served in many key positions as part of representing RPA as well as his nation, he has experience working in the international forces.
  2. During RPA war time he worked as a supplies officer who did not engage in many civilian killings, his name only became familiar to the outside world recently for only good reasons.
  3. Has no indictments and has contacts around the world that he served with during his UNAMIR and his tenure of 2007 in Darfur.
  4. President Kagame is hoping that he could use the position of African Union army chief to persuade the United Nations to allow him enter Burundi under the AU umbrella.

Who will be the next RDF chief of staff?

Brigadier General Muzungu Damali was born in Uganda like many Rwanda Defence leaders. He joined the Guerrilla war in the early 1990’s, served in the high command among Kagame’s body guards.

After the war in 1994 Muzungu Damali served as close body guard to the then newly appointed President Pasteur Bizimungu, later was chosen to attend air force courses, rising from the rank of Second lieutenant to Brigadier General and becoming the head of air force.

Brigadier General Muzungu Damali was recently appointed to take over General Jack Nziza’s position of the Inspector General of defence where he is shadowing the Chief Defence Forces Patrick Nyamvumba.

Brigadier General Muzungu Damali is being groomed to take over the whole army leadership, another opportunity Muzungu Damali has, he shares the lunch round table with the Kagame family because he is married to Kagame’s cousin.

General Jean Bosco Kazora is very close to President Kagame’s wife, served as Kagame’s interpreter of French to English during war time.

He was later appointed to work alongside Patrick Nyamvumba in the Kikundi Punguza Kagera national park, later worked as head of Rwanda Football Federation.

He was later relieved off his duties in the African union forces due to his crimes, this is the man Kagame’s wife wants to take over the chief of staff role, just because they attended the same school during childhood.   However Gen Kazora has arrest warrants due to the crimes he committed during the war, this turns apart his chances of being appointed next chief of staff as he is not likely to be unable to represent his country when it is required.

Lt General Ceaser Kayizari currently working as an ambassador of Rwanda in Turkey, will be replaced by William Nkurunziza return home.

His appointment as Chief of staff or even CDF to replace Nyamvumba will be determined by the following.

  1. There is a possibility that Gen Ceaser Kayizari may have to replace Patrick Nyamvumba, this is because Muzungu Damali and Franco Rutagengwa are currently shadowing Nyamvumba, investigating his calls and his movements.
  2. It is reported that the CDF has shown being unhappy with continued complains to friends and families. His wife who returned to Canada, reported that she could not stay in Rwanda where the first lady controls her life. President Kagame advised Nyamvumba to remarry but Nyamvumba refused because he believes that one day will reunite with his family. This has torn apart his chances of serving as CDF longer as first thought when he was appointed.
  3. Lt Gen Ceaser Kayizari is very likely to take over from Patrick Nyamvumba because of his experience he gained from shadowing Col Steven Ndugute who captured Rwanda as the head of operations.
  4. Gen Ceaser Kayizari understands very well what it means when it comes to wars, he is recalled during the time when Rwanda is expecting to engage in war around the region. Rwanda is in the middle of every regional crisis in the region, and so at this stage requires a head of the army that is ready to respond positively to any assault.
  5. Brigadier General Mupenzi Jaque also crossed President Kagame’s mind just because he served under Gen Kayumba Nyamwasa, in their successful times.

  1. Brig Gen Mupenzi as well as Gen Jack Nziza twited Kagame’s mind divided and created allegations to tarnish most of their colleague’s names, such as Patrick Karegeya, Kayumba Nyamwasa as well as Rusagara and Tom Byabagamba.
  2. Although Kagame immediately changed his mind because he believed that Mupenzi requires more time to master army leadership.
  3. President Kagame also briefed his close friends that he would like to get rid of the old force, get them all relieved off their duties and instead recruit young officers and men who will understand the structure of command as he orders not the old guards who still questions Kagame’s position in the liberation of Rwanda. The ministry of defence still has an announcement on its website encouraging all graduates in the range 18-24 years old to join the army, with a view to becoming cadet officers.

More updates will follow

Noble Marara