The Formed Police Unit five (FPU V) with 140 Police officers, yesterday, left for a one-year peacekeeping mission under the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (Minustah).

The officers, who include 17 women, left Kigali international Airport aboard Ethiopian Airlines at about 7am.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, Dan Munyuza, saw them off. This is the fifth rotational exercise since Rwanda National Police (RNP) started deploying FPUs in the Caribbean nation in 2010 to carry out humanitarian activities following a devastating earthquake that ravaged the country.

The FPU V, led by Chief Supt. Freddie Murenzi, will be stationed in Jeremie, and replaces FPU IV which was deployed on July 4, last year.

The returning contingent was recently decorated for their successful peace building and stabilisation activities in Haiti and are slated to arrive back home on Friday.  

Police Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police Damas Gatare said: "Rwanda has attained peace and security against all odds and it remains committed to restore the same in other states,” said ACP Gatare.

The Rwandan officers will also help build the capacity of the Haitian National Police.

Rwandan peacekeepers in various missions have been credited with professional services and discipline.

RNP is also scheduled to deploy two other contingents to South Sudan and Central African Republic before the end of the year.

The RNP peacekeeping operations started in 2005 and over 2000 Police officers have since served in various peacekeeping missions.

Rwanda currently maintains about 600 police peacekeepers in Darfur, South Sudan, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Abyei and Haiti.