The Rwandan and Cameroonian governments have shaken up their militaries in what is seen as a response to the recent coups in Niger and Gabon.
According to a Rwandan national newspaper, News-Times, Rwanda’s federal government has approved the retirement of 12 generals and several officers. The retirements were announced on Wednesday, August 30, in a statement issued by the Rwanda Defence Force.
The two four-star generals who were retired were James Kabarebe and Fred Ibingira. The two three-star generals who were retired were Charles Kayonga and Frank Mushyo Kamanzi. Kabarebe and Kayonga have both served as Chief of Defence Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), while the other two have served as service chiefs.
The statement partly reads, “The President has also approved the retirement of 83 senior officers, six junior officers and 86 senior noncommissioned officers, 678 whose contracts ended and 160 medical discharges.”
In Cameroon, President Paul Biya has made changes to the military leadership by appointing new officers to key positions.
This was announced in a statement signed by Biya and circulated on Twitter, formerly known as X. The statement was written in French, the country’s official language of communication.