Several military generals in Rwanda, including a former chief of staff, have been dismissed in a reshuffle that saw over 1,000 personnel sacked or forcefully retired.
According to an official statement released by the Rwandan military on Friday, President and army commander-in-chief Paul Kagame “approved the retirement” of General Jean Bosco Kazura and 1,162 military personnel of various ranks.
62-year-old Kazura, previously a military advisor to Kagame, served as Rwanda’s Chief of Defence Staff from 2019 to 2023. In 2013 and 2014, he led the United Nations mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA.
Others who were retired include, brigadier generals John Bagabo, John Bosco Rutikanga, Johnson Hodari and Firmin Bayingana.
A source revealed that the changes came after President Paul Kagame met with high-ranking military leaders to “discuss the peace and security priorities of Rwanda,” during which he accused multiple generals present of lacking discipline.
On Friday, Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) cut off 21 senior officers, including division general Martin Nzaramba, who was “dismissed for corruption and misappropriation of funds intended for the welfare of soldiers during his time as Director of the Basic Military Training Center.”
In June 2003, President Kagame dismissed some senior officers over “lack of discipline” after replacing the defence minister, army chief of staff, and land forces chief of staff—a decision that led to the dismissal of over 200 soldiers.
President Kagame, who was re-elected for a fourth term in August 2024, described last year’s reshuffle as normal.
Kagame is known for rebuilding a devastated nation following the 1994 genocide but is also alleged to govern in an atmosphere of fear.