Military Reform – 2002

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Military Reform – 2002

2002

Intermediate Implementation Intermediate implementation

In an effort to reform the military, the government enacted a law (no. 19/2002) on 17 May 2002 that called for the demobilization of members of Rwandan Defense Force, Former Armed Force of Rwanda, and other formerly armed groups. When the law was enacted in 2002, the RDA controlled 51,000 armed personnel. Through the RDRP Stage II, 22,000 Rwandan Defense Force members were expected to be demobilized resulting in a smaller and more professionalized armed force. As of June 2008, 22,362 RDF soldiers were demobilized exceeding their target.1 This reform initiative was supported by World Bank, DFID, GTZ and Multi Donor Trust Fund, African Union and the government of Rwanda.2

The Rwandan armed force is now an integrated and reformed armed force. Yet, it did not meet the 13,000 personnel goal as agreed to in the Arusha Accord of 1993.

  1. “Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Commission,” DDR-Rwanda, January-March 2008, 4, accessed September 19, 2011, www.rdrc.org.rw.
  2. “RDRC, 2001-2008,” accessed September 19, 2011, http://escolapau.uab.cat/img/programas/desarme/mapa/rwanda09i.pdf.