12/08/2014
Mayen Deng
The UN Security Council has announced that Rwanda is sending four helicopters to the peace keeping mission in South Sudan.
The spokespersons for the UN Security Council, Eri Kaneko, says other helicopters will arrive in September for UNMISS. The helicopters will be used for humanitarian assistance and the protection of civilians.
Mr. Eri Kaneko was Briefing the media at the UN Security Council in New York. “Rwanda has provided four helicopters which arrived today for UNMISS and others will arrive in September and in the subsequent discussions among council members,” he confirmed.
Mr. Eri also said that members of the UN Security Council will visit Juba next week to caution both sides about the negative consequences of impeding the peace process.
“I think there is consensus around the frustration at the situation in South Sudan; concern about continuing fighting and the lack of progress in the talks.”
Rwanda Air Force to deploy 3 Aviation Units in Juba (South Sudan)
11/05/2013
4 month ago, Rwanda sent 3 aviations units, in South Sudan, to provide transport for troops, NGO staff but also to peform Medvac and Cargo flights. There are currently 6 helicopters which are MI 17s (HERE).
The 3 aviation units serve under the UNMISS (United Mission in South Sudan). Rwanda Defence Forces has currently 850 soldiers in South Sudan, but also 3 200 soldiers in Darfur.
Click on the picture to see bigger.
Lading on Helipad Troops and NGO staff transport
Flying in dusty conditions can "damage" rotors.
Medvac (Medical Evacuation) Foods and Cargo Transport
RwandAir stats Juba service from 01 July 2013 : HERE
04/02/2013
One of six MI 17s is departing to Juba. Kigali (Rwanda) 27 December 2012.
Two pictures taken in January 2013 at Juba, showing the six MI-17s and also, Rwanda Air Force airmen during a rescue mission.
04/01/2013
Three of Six MI-17s of Rwanda Air Force which are based at Juba, on 27 December 2012.
27/12/2012
While Rwanda will join the UN Security Council on 1st January 2013, the Rwandan Minister Of Defence announced this morning, that it will deploy three Aviation Units in Juba, the capital of the South Sudan. The three MI 17s left Kigali with 18 crew members at 7h00 a.m, they will support the UNMISS (United Mission in South Sudan).
"The Air Force deployments in UN mission is a great achievement signifying the ever increasing role RDF and Rwanda at large continue to play in a multinational settings". Rwanda is among few African countries to deploy Air Assets in UN International Peace keeping missions around the world. “Deploying air assets is not a simple thing; it is a sophisticated endeavor, it is a great achievement which Rwandans need to be proud of”, according to the Military and Defence Spokesman Brig. Gen. Joseph Nzabamwita.
The mission of the three Aviation Units will be the airlift of personnel and logistics, search and rescue operations, air medical evacuation, and other peace support operations. A contingent of 85 air force personnel, including medical doctors, logisticians, and maintenance officers will head to Juba (South Sudan) tomorrow morning.
Rwanda has already a strong prescense in South Sudan. In deed, since April 2012 a Rwandan Battalion (Rwanbatt1 of Rwanda Defence Force) serving under United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
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SOURCE : HERE