Sixteen Police officers, are today set to leave for a one-year peacekeeping mission in Côte d'Ivoire and Haiti. Fourteen of them will serve under the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI).

The officers will serve as mentors and advisers to local Police in the two countries.

During a pre-deployment briefing at the Rwanda National Police headquarters in Kacyiru, yesterday, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Emmanuel K. Gasana, appealed to the officers to uphold discipline and Rwandan values.

He also asked them to respect their superiors and perform their duties  professionally.

"You are going there to represent your country, so keep the flag high and protect the image of the force and the country in general by executing your tasks professionally,” the IGP told the officers.

He challenged them not only to share RNP’s experience but also learn from this multi-national environment.

The officers bring the number of Rwanda Police peacekeepers in Ivory Coast to 40. The West African contingent is led by Chief Sup. Gérard Ntare.

The UNOCI Police component is also led by a Rwandan, Commissioner of Police (CP) Vianney Nshimiyimana.

Rwanda National Police (RNP), maintains over 500 Police officers in eight peacekeeping missions.

The missions are Haiti, Darfur, South Sudan, Abyei, Liberia, Mali, Guinea Bissau and Côte d'Ivoire.