Rwandan President Paul Kagame recently made headlines as he carried out a purge within the country’s disciplined forces, resulting in the dismissal of several senior military officers. Among those affected were Major General Martin Nzaramba, Colonel Dr Etienne Uwimana, and 19 other officers, who were all let go due to various forms of misconduct.
According to the Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF), President Kagame also authorized the termination of contracts for 195 additional military personnel. The reasons behind the dismissals ranged from corruption to violations of the military code of conduct.
This move by President Kagame came on the heels of a meeting with top military officials to discuss national security priorities. The RDF has a history of taking a firm stance on disciplinary issues, with past dismissals including high-ranking officers for offenses like excessive alcohol consumption and insubordination.
The recent purge underscores the Rwandan government’s zero-tolerance policy towards misconduct within its armed forces, highlighting the importance of upholding military values and integrity.