RWANDAN DEFENSE FORCES TO CHANGE COMMANDER OF THE

UNCLAS KIGALI 000379

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C, DRL/PHD, PM/RSAT AND L/PM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM MARR MASS RW
SUBJECT: RWANDAN DEFENSE FORCES TO CHANGE COMMANDER OF THE
14TH BATTALION

REF: A. KIGALI 36


B. KIGALI 373


1. (SBU) On 20 April, the Rwandan Ministry of Defense
notified post that the new Battalion Commander for the 14th
Battalion will be Major James Safari. The change was made in
order to comply with USG's notification (ref B) that no U.S.
support could be provided to the 14th if LtCol Goodman
Ruzibiza remained in command. A senior Rwandan officer told
acting DATT that Major Safari, currently the Battalion
Executive Officer, will be promoted to LtCol and take command
of the 14th prior to its deployment to Darfur in May. Post
has discovered no derogatory human rights information on
Safari and he was previously vetted as a staff officer of the
14th Battalion (Ref A).


2. (SBU) Comment. This is a smart decision by the GOR, as
the second in command of the 14th, Safari knows the Battalion
and is very familiar with the officers and soldiers he will
be commanding. Additionally, due to the absence of LtCol
Ruzibiza, he was the acting Battalion Commander during the
recently completed ACOTA training. End comment.


3. (SBU) Bio information on Safari:
Name: Safari
First Name: James
Rank: Major
Appointment: CO
DOB: 1969
DOE 1987 (Enlistment date)
Marital status: Single
Education Standard: S4
Date of Commissioning: 1991
Appointments Held:
1987-1993: Regiment Signals Officer
1994-1995: Platoon Commander
1996-2000: Company Commander
2001-2004: Operations Training Officer
2005-2007: 2nd in Command, 14BN
-2007: CO, 14BN
Courses:
Military Communication
Company Command
Grade 3 Staff Course
Peace Support OPS (ACOTA, BPSTT)
Seminars:
Law
Children's Rights
International Humanitarian Law

ARIETTI