Police forces of DR Congo, Burundi, Uganda and Rwanda have agreed to lay joint strategies to fight cross-border crimes and share policing best practices.

This was agreed during a meeting at the Rwanda National Police headquarters in Kacyiru yesterday. The meeting drew the Police chiefs and representatives from the four countries.

Among the strategies agreed on by the four Police forces include conducting joint operations and training, exchange of criminals and information.

The Inspector General of Rwanda National Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana, said cooperation is a fundamental tool for regional law enforcers to ensure sustainable peace and security of the region.

He said sharing of information and conducting tactical-joint operations will help bring to justice elements who, after committing crimes, in one country, flee to another.

"Criminals should not get safe haven in any of our countries,” Gasana said.

"Solutions to our problems are within us. We have the responsibility and capabilities and let us exploit them by supporting each other,” Gen. Kale Kayihura, the IGP of Uganda Police Force, said.

Runaway criminals

The Deputy Director-General of DR Congo National Police, Raus Ngashi, commended RNP’s commitment to bringing about peace and security in the region and beyond.

André Ndayambaje, the director-general of Burundi National Police, said effective cooperation is imperative in crime prevention and arrest of criminals who seek refuge in our countries after committing crimes in another.

The four Police chiefs agreed to meet in Goma, DR Congo, later this year to cement the joint cooperation.

RNP already has a memorandum of understanding with Burundi and Uganda Police forces and getting the DR Congo on board is seen as another step forward towards apprehending criminals that could be hiding in any of these countries.

The Police chiefs and their delegations are in Rwanda to attend the two-day 3rd sub-Saharan Africa International Association of Chiefs of Police conference that closes today.