Jean Bosco Kazura is a Rwandan General, former Chief of Defence Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force and former head of the Rwandan Football Federation.

Kazura was born and educated in Burundi.[1] He got involved in the military campaign conducted by the Rwandan Patriotic Front to end the 1994 Rwandan genocide.[2] Later, he served as the deputy commander of the African Union peacekeeping force in the Darfur region of Sudan. He held various positions in the Rwandan military, including the Principal Staff Officer at the Rwandan Defence Force Headquarters in Kigali (2010-2013), brigade and division level commands (1998-2003), as well as the Deputy Force Commander and the Chief Military Observer of the African Mission in Sudan.[3]

Kazura was the unanimously elected president of the Rwandese Association Football Federation in February 2006.[4] During his first term, Rwanda successfully hosted the 2009 African Youth Championship. Four years later, he was unopposed in an election for FERWAFA president, retaining the position.[5]

After a command reshuffle in April 2010, Kazura was given command of Rwandan army training and operations.[2] In June 2010, he traveled to South Africa to attend the World Cup. He had failed to obtain permission for the trip, required for the army officers leaving the country; hence, he was later recalled and arrested.[6] An army spokesman denied that the arrest had any connection with Kazura's contacting two former military officers living in exile in South Africa, former chief of staff Lieutenant General Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa and former head of external military intelligence Patrick Karegeya.[7] Kazura spent over a month in detention before being pardoned and released after making an apology.[8]

Kazura resigned as head of FERWAFA in September 2011.[9]

In June 2013, Major General Kazura was appointed as Force Commander of MINUSMA (United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali).[10]

References

  1. ↑ "AFRICA/RWANDA - Divisions within the Rwandan military: an analysis". Agenzia Fides - Palazzo "de Propaganda Fide". 2 July 2010. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Rwanda arrests football head on way to World Cup". BBC News. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  3. ↑ "United Nations Press Release". United Nations. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  4. ↑ Emma Nsekanabo & Hamza Nkuutu (2 February 2006). "Brig. Gen Kazura is FERWAFA chief". The New Times (Rwanda). Archived from the original on 15 May 2006. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  5. ↑ Hamza Nkuutu (3 January 2010). "No More Excuses for Gen. Kazura". The New Times. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  6. ↑ Edmund Kagire (11 June 2010). "Brig. Gen Kazura Arrested". The New Times (Rwanda). Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  7. ↑ Martin Plaut (20 June 2010). "Division in Rwanda's military ranks". BBC News. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  8. ↑ Edmund Kagire (21 July 2010). "Brigadier Gen Kazura Released". The New Times. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  9. ↑ "Basketball Boss Resigns". The New Times. 30 November 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  10. ↑ "Le général rwandais Jean-Bosco Kazura dirigera la Minusma au Mali". RFI. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.


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