On 6-7 October 1990, the 4th Battalion of the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) successfully captured the Gabiro military camp, located in the eastern part of Rwanda. This event was part of the RPF’s liberation struggle, which had started earlier in the year with their attack on the Kagitumba border post and the launch of an armed resistance against the Habyarimana government.
On 6-7 October 1990, the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), led by the 4th Battalion, achieved a significant military victory with the capture of Gabiro, a key military base in eastern Rwanda. This marked a major turning point in the early stages of the RPF’s armed struggle against the government of President Juvénal Habyarimana.
The Gabiro military camp was one of the key military strongholds for the Forces Armées Rwandaises (FAR), the national army, and its capture was a powerful demonstration of the RPA’s military capabilities and growing influence in the Rwandan Civil War.
Key Points:
- The 4th Battalion of the RPA captured the strategically significant Gabiro military camp.
- This victory boosted the RPA’s morale and provided them with important military supplies and positions.
- The capture of Gabiro disrupted the FAR’s military operations in the region and demonstrated the RPA’s ability to effectively challenge the government forces.
- The attack on Gabiro also contributed to the increasingly complex nature of the Rwandan Civil War, which was marked by escalating violence and regional interventions.
The success of the RPA’s 4th Battalion in capturing Gabiro highlighted the growing strength of the RPF and set the stage for further military engagements, as both sides continued to fight for control of strategic locations across the country.