The National Police College (NPC), on Thursday, held a symposium on Peace, Security and Justice as part of its Police Senior Command and Staff Course (PSCSC) programme.

This year's symposium was held under the theme; "Enhancing Security in Africa: Regional Security in Perspective."

Thirty Police students from nine African countries constitute the 7th intake of the PSCSC.

The countries are Central African Republic (CAR), Nigeria, Liberia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, Namibia, and the host Rwanda.

IGP Dan Munyuza speaking at the symposium.

The State Minister for Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Evode Uwizeyimana, in his keynote opening address said that globalization brought free-flow of ideas, people, goods, services and capital, which increased the interconnectedness of people world over and broadened countries' boundaries.

"These dynamics have an impact on different regions of our continent and indeed on individual country's security. Criminals exploit these opportunities and are now able to commit cross-border crimes," he said.

 He noted that today's security challenges are shared across borders to the extent that the region is no longer defined by political boundaries, rather by the problem at hand.

"Contemporary security threats do not respect human-drawn borders."

Evode Uwizeyimana, State Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs, giving a keynote opening address.

He said that ensuring effective security compels regional law enforcement institutions to cooperate to set shared and comprehensive crime prevention strategies.

The symposium, which brings together academicians, researchers and experts in the fields of Peace, Security and Justice is part of the one-year academic and professional course, which offers a master's degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation.

The course also covers strategic command and professional policing, executive leadership as well as strategic management.

Panellists included the Senior Defence and Security Advisor in the Office of the President, Gen. James Kabarebe, who discussed the "emerging security challenges: drivers and trends; Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Munyuza, who spoke at length on 'security cooperation in Africa: mechanisms and functionalities; and renowned pan-Africanist and Director of Kenya School of Law, Prof. Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba, who tackled the issue of Justice and Security: interrogating the nexus.

L-R: Moderator Dr. Charity Wibabara and panellists, Gen. James Kabarebe, Prof. Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba and Dr. Tony Karbo.

Others include Dr. Tony Karbo, Senior Programme Officer and Associate Professor at the University of Peace (Africa Programme) in Ethiopia, who discussed the 'Security Landscape: Theories in Perspective; Dr. Jean-Paul Kimonyo, Policy Advisor in the Office of the President (contextualizing Regional Cooperation in Africa); while Prosecutor General Jean-Bosco Mutangana tackled the 'status of judicial cooperation in Africa: challenges and prospects.'

Present was also Major Gen. Jean-Bosco Kazura, the Commandant of RDF Command and Staff College, DIGP in charge of Administration and Personnel, Juvenal Marizamunda, Secretary General of Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), Col. Jeannot Ruhunga, Governor of the Northern Province, Jean-Marie Vianney Gatabazi and Director General for External Security, Col (rtd) Anaclet Kalibata.

Officials attending the symposium of Peace, Security and Justice.

In his closing remarks, the Minister of Local Government, Prof. Anastase Shyaka said that Peace and Security dynamics of the 21st century are growing very complex than ever before mainly due the changing nature of states' relations, the increasing threat of terrorism, cyber and hi-tech crimes, and persistent bloody conflicts especially in Africa.

"Confronting the rapid evolving peace and security challenges compels to know their trends and impact in order to be able to reshape policy, legal and operational framework both at national and regional levels in view of their new developments," Minister Shyaka said, adding that the "Police senior command course and its symposium respond to this need."

Minister of Local Government Prof. Anastase Shyaka giving a closing keynote address.

Engaging Senior Police officers from different countries, he said, provides a better way to increase strategic leaders, who understand the changing nature of the policing environment so as to inform decision-making in their respective countries.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com