Twelve female individual police officers (IPOs), yesterday, left for a year-long United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

The officers are joining another group of 22 Rwandan IPOs currently deployed in Haiti.

Speaking during the pre-deployment briefing at the Police headquarters in Kacyiru, IGP Emmanuel K. Gasana, challenged the officers to be focused on their mandate and to be professional.

"Uphold the Rwandan and Police values, serve within the boundaries of your mandate with maximum discipline and team work and ensure that your performance is outstanding,” IGP Gasana said.

He also told the officers to consider the mission as a learning opportunity.

The briefing was attended by Deputy IGP Dan Munyuza, who urged the officers to ensure they preserve Rwanda’s dignity.

"Your performance out there reflects the image of our country that’s why you need to perform your duties with dignity and discipline,” said DIGP Munyunza.

The IPOs will be serving along other Rwandan National Police peacekeepers in Haiti.

One of the officers, AIP Jacqueline Nyiransabimana, said the team is committed to ensuring that they execute their tasks effectively.

Rwanda has been deploying Police peacekeepers to Haiti since a catastrophic earthquake in 2010 that killed over 100,000 Haitians, leaving millions homeless.

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