James Kabarebe

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James Kabarebe (born 1959) is a Rwandan politician and retired military officer who serves a senior military advisor to President Paul Kagame of Rwanda since 2025. He previously served as Minister of State for Regional Integration from 2023 to 2025, Minister of Defense from 2010 to 2018, and Chief of staff of the Rwandan Defence Force from 2002 to 2010. Kabarebe commanded the Rwandan Patriotic Army's Republican Guard from 1990 to 1994, in which role he was responsible for providing close protection for army commander Paul Kagame. Kabarebe became a key figure in both the First Congo War and the Second Congo War. He was one of the main commanders of the Banyamulenge rebellion that began the first war in 1996, and the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of the Congo (AFDL) was founded in his office. He orchestrated the AFDL's operations, and after its victory, he was the chief of staff of the new Congolese Armed Forces from 1997 to 1998, until the outbreak of the second war. He...

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