The rotation exercise of Rwanda Formed Police Units One and Two under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) ended yesterday with the send off of 120 police officers and arrival of an equal number.

The officers seen off are part of FPU2 contingent of 240 peacekeepers, which replaced other 240 under FPU1, who successfully have completed their one year tour of duty.

Commissioner of Police (CP) Vianney Nshimiyimana, the Commissioner for Training at Rwanda National Police, saw off the peacekeepers and welcomed their colleagues at Kigali International Airport.

FPU2 is headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Eric Mutsinzi while ACP Rogers Rutikanga, who headed the last batch on their return back home, was the contingent commander of FPU1.

Nshimiyimana welcomed the returning officers, saying that the quest for international peace should not end with their just-completed mission but a continuous struggle even as they return home.

On his part, Rutikanga said that discipline was the main factor for delivering on their mandate during the past one year they served under UNMISS.

"The discipline by Rwandan forces is the foundation to success and I want to thank all these peacekeepers for staying put, sacrificing for the good image of their country and the people of South Sudan,” Rutikanga said.

Rutikanga outlined their major achievements in South Sudan especially in Malakai of Upper Nile, where they were based, protecting the internally displaced persons, among other responsibilities.

He also said that they left a legacy of love, partnership and unity with the people of South Sudan.

"In peacekeeping activities, we were also sensitising and teaching them the ideal of unity especially since we also experienced some of these conflicts in Rwanda; so, we were using our experience to show them that they are one people,” he added.

He noted that in such international duties, one meets with a lot of people with varied experiences, saying that this will be valuable to them.

"To some of these peacekeepers; it’s their first time to be in such societies with different backgrounds. We have come back with that international status that can guide each and every one of us to fit and work in every environment,” he said.

RNP currently maintains about 1,000 peacekeepers in different missions, over 800 of them organised in five FPU contingents with three of them in Central African Republic (CAR) while the other one is deployed in Haiti.

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