rwandan-flyer.blog4ever.com

15/01/2014 updated on 16/01/2014

Confirmed by the Rwandan Defense Force website :

Within a period of 20 days, the US Military aircraft (C-17) will airlift the 850 peacekeepers to Bangui. “The existing cooperation between Rwanda and the US Government in Peacekeeping Operations is a cornerstone for concerted efforts to ensure that peace and security is restored in the region and beyond. Rwanda Defence Force reiterates its sincere gratitude to the US for the invaluable support in providing strategic airlift and associated logistic support for the deployment of the Peacekeeping Force to CAR”, underlined Gen Patrick Nyamvumba, the RDF Chief of Defence Staff.

http://www.mod.gov.rw/?Rwanda-deploys-Peacekeeping-Troops,1544&lang=en

Pictures by the American Embassy in Rwanda.

20/12/2013

Africom : United States Africa Command
Eurocom : United States European Command

Informations was learnt yesterday evening on the Louise Mushikiwabo's twitter account, Rwanda will send peacekeeping troops in Central African Republic. It's currently too early when and how many will be deployed.

"Rwanda was asked by the AU to contribute troops to the CAR and deploy urgently, and yes, right now the RDF (Rwanda Defence Force) is preparing to go,"

Rwanda has not a military transport aircraft such as C-130, C-17 or Casa. The most of time it's a foreign army, or an airline which is selected by the United Nations which  airlift soldiers. RwandAir is among them.

But in this case, it seems that it could be the US Air Force (which has already helped Rwanda, in the past. The first Rwandans troops in Darfur were airlifted by the US Air Force, with C-130 and C-17. Last week, US Air Force deployed two C-17s in Burundi, for Burundian troops deployed in Central African Republic. Despite the military aid cut by USA, US Air Force could help Rwanda. Watch this space.

C-17 in Rwanda, in 2007 (Eurocom)

C-17 in Burundi, last week (Africom) . (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Erik Cardenas/Released) : http://www.dvidshub.net/image/1137573/burundi-soldiers-run-off-c-17-globemaster-dec-13-bangui-airport-central-african-republic#.UrQSg_TuLag