The UN, on Saturday, March 27, decorated 139 Rwandan Police officers serving in its mission in Central African Republic (CAR), with medals of service excellence.

The decorated officers constitute Rwanda Formed Police Unit-One (FPU-1) contingent commanded by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Safari Uwimana, which was deployed under the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) in December 2019.

FPU-1 is deployed in the capital Bangui where they conduct varied duties including protection of high profile officials, public order management, protection of internally displaced persons, key installations and infrastructures, patrols and escort duties, among others.

The medal decoration ceremony was presided over by the Joint Task Force for Bangui, Brig. Gen. Driss Oukaddour.

It was held in consideration of Covid-19 prevention measures.

Senior MINUSCA officials from both military and Police components as well as contingent commanders from other contributing nations graced the event.

Oukaddour congratulated the decorated officers and commended them for their resilience despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which did not wither their "commitment and professionalism to serve."

Rwanda FPU-1 contingent commander, ACP Safari Uwimana also thanked the officers under his command for the discipline and teamwork, which guided them during the tour-of-duty.

He thanked MINUSCA, the government and people of CAR as well as other peacekeepers for the partnership and support in the last 16 months.