Rwandan President Paul Kagame has promoted Colonel Stanislas Gashugi to the rank of Brigadier General and appointed him as the new Commander of the Special Operations Force (SOF) of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), with immediate effect. At the same time, Major General Ruki Karusisi, who previously led the Special Forces, has been reassigned to RDF Headquarters for a future deployment.
According to a source within the European Union, Karusisi is among the Rwandan officials likely to be sanctioned by the EU in response to Rwanda’s alleged involvement in the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The sanctions are part of broader international measures aimed at individuals accused of playing a key role in supporting the M23 rebellion.
Karusisi is a close associate of President Kagame. He was previously part of Kagame’s personal security detail before undergoing advanced military training in the United States. Considered one of the RDF’s youngest and fastest-rising generals, his rapid career advancement has been facilitated by his close family ties to the ruling elite. His sister, Diane Karusisi, is the CEO of Bank of Kigali, a financial institution widely regarded as being under the control of Kagame’s inner circle.
Under Karusisi’s command, Rwanda’s Special Forces have been heavily involved in military operations in eastern DRC, where they have played a decisive role in the recent M23 offensives. His sudden reassignment raises questions about whether this is a genuine redeployment or a tactical move by Kigali to shield him from imminent EU sanctions.
This decision also comes at a time when the European Union is intensifying its diplomatic and economic pressure on Rwanda. With mounting accusations that Kigali has been directly supporting M23 militarily, the EU has been considering targeted sanctions against key figures within the Rwandan government and military.
Karusisi’s removal from command leaves room for speculation. Is he being sidelined in response to international scrutiny, or is Kagame strategically positioning him for an even more critical role in the near future? Given Rwanda’s history of reshuffling senior military figures to avoid external pressure, this move could be part of a broader strategy to maintain its influence while mitigating the risks of sanctions.
