Rwandan peacekeepers serving under the United Nations Multi-dimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in CAR (Minusca) have introduced the home-grown community exercise, Umuganda, in the central African nation.

On Saturday, the Rwanda Police, military and Correctional Services’ peacekeepers mobilised residents of the fifth District in the capital Bangui and cleaned Koudukou road.

The fifth District is largely occupied by Christians.

There was a big turn up of the locals, who welcomed the culture and thanked the peacekeepers for serving and helping the local people.

The exercise was followed by a community meeting, where the locals were urged to voluntarily surrender arms and other military items they could be possessing illegally.

Gilbert R. Gumira, the contingent commander of the Rwandan Formed Police Unit, appealed to the residents to love one other, leave hatred behind and work together to develop their communities and the country in general.

Participants were also informed of the impact of Umuganda in the socio-economic development and agreed that the next communal exercise be held in the Muslim-dominated third District.

Rwanda maintains over 1,000 peacekeepers in CAR, including some individual police officers.

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