30th Rwanda Reunion for peacekeeping force to be held in Townsville
The call has gone out for Australia’s peacekeeping soldiers in Rwanda during the early 90s to reunite at an upcoming meet in Townsville.
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The call is out for Rwanda veterans to reunite in Townsville 30 years after one of the most challenging peace keeping missions in modern history.
The 30th Rwanda Reunion later this month is being hosted by the Townsville RSL and will bring together those who served on Operation Tamar under UNAMIR II between 1994 and 1995 – Australia’s contribution to the United Nation’s peacekeeping efforts.
The significance of 2025 lies in the fact that 30 years ago, the two contingents overlapped, marking a defining moment in the mission.
Rwanda veteran and Townsville RSL president Colonel Mosch said the reunion was about recognising the service of those 656 Australian Defence Force personnel who deployed to Rwanda and honouring those who are no longer with us.
The president was part of the 1994 Advance Party to African country torn by genocide and civil war.
“The Rwanda deployment was confronting at times,” said Mr Mosch,
“Both contingents faced extreme challenges, arriving in a country that had just suffered one of the most brutal genocides in history, the cruelty they inflicted upon each other, was horrific.
“The tension between Rwandan soldiers and the Australians, was often at a flashpoint.”
The first contingent landed to a large-scale humanitarian disaster, locating mass graves and massacre sites during their deployment.
The second contingent was in the thick of it during the Kibeho Massacre, where thousands of unarmed civilians were slaughtered in front of them.
Mr Mosch said the Australian peacekeeping missions made a difference.
“If the UNAMIR II mission had not occurred, stabilising the country at a critical time, there was still an appetite for more reprisals,” the president said.
Townsville was the staging point for both peacekeeping missions.
“Both contingents trained here before deploying and for many of us, where our military careers were shaped,” he said.
Mr Mosch said many Rwanda veterans were planning to come to the Garrison City for the reunion.
“There is a lot of interest in coming back not just for the reunion, but because Townsville was their home for some time,” Mr Mosch said.
Reunion events, the Anzac Day march and the 30th Rwanda Reunion run from April 22-26 and for Veterans interested in attending the reunion email 2RAR.reunions@gmail.com
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Originally published as 30th Rwanda Reunion for peacekeeping force to be held in Townsville
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