Another rotation exercise for police peacekeepers is underway in Haiti. 

A batch of 160 officers is going to continue the tradition of Rwandan peacekeepers wherever they are sent; selfless service to the population under their care, professionalism, but above all, flying the country’s flag high.

Over the past decade, Rwanda has risen to become one of the largest troop contributors to the United Nations peacekeeping operations in the world. That title did not just fall on their laps.

Some 20-something years ago, Rwandans experienced poor peacekeeping – or lack of it, for that matter. The consequences were catastrophic and are still etched on the minds of the people of Rwanda.

The priority of any peacekeeper is the protection of civilians. The Rwandans have gone beyond that mandate.

They have taken it upon their shoulders to take peacekeeping to another level; from the dusty outposts of Darfur to the earthquake stricken Haiti, all the way to Central African Republic, they have extended social services to the ordinary people.

They have built schools, carried out medical interventions for the population and even introduced Umuganda (community services).

But the most important aspect is that they have built trust. The people under their care know that they are safe wherever Rwandans are deployed.

That is a heavy legacy that the new police contingent to Haiti will have to match or even supersede.