Kagame Says Force Should Be Used To Protect Innocent Lives, Reports KT Press

    NEW YORK, NY, September 28, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- President Paul Kagame says necessary lethal force should be used to protect innocent civilians in countries engulfed by terror.

"When lives are at stake, nothing matters more than saving them," Kagame said on Friday 26, in New York at a Summit on UN Peacekeeping.

Kagame, who has deployed over 4600 Rwandan elite boots in ten countries torn by deadly conflicts, said "where needed, we stand ready to respond with additional infantry battalions and force enablers."

Since 2004, Rwanda has contributed over 36,000 military personnel and 2,000 police officers to 16 missions around the world, ranking 6th globally.

Kagame said Rwanda's lessons were learnt from the genocide where over a million people perished in 100 days despite countless calls for international intervention. "So long as peacekeeping is necessary, it should be effective, timely and focused around protection of civilians," he said.

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, said the global security landscape is shifting dramatically, threatening millions of people with civil conflicts coupled with terrorism, organized crime and health crises. "More often than not, these dangers transcend borders," he said.

Kagame said the demands are increasing in quantity and complexity. "We need to modernize our approach," he said. He suggested that peacekeepers connect with communities they serve to better respond and prevent outbreaks of violence, help them rebuild their lives and create lasting peace.

The UN has more than 130,000 troops and civilian staff around the world. "That is a UN record," Ki Moon said. "But even beyond these numbers, peacekeeping is being called on to do more than ever...the risks are also growing." He thanked troop contributing countries for their commitment.

US Vice President Joe Biden, who chaired the summit, said the US is grateful for the sacrifices made by peacekeepers. Biden singled out Rwanda saying "few countries know the value of peacekeeping than Rwanda." Rwanda was the first country to send troops when conflicts erupted in the Central Africa Republic and S. Sudan.

Rwanda's role was key in the formation of the East African Standby Force; a regional military alliance composed of ten member states; Burundi Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda. According to President Kagame, the force has developed a seven day deployment readiness standard.

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