The Rwanda National Police (RNP) has denied reports that it deployed police officers in DR Congo. 

While responding to written questions on Tuesday, December 21 about whether there are Rwandan police officers in the DR Congo, the RNP spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera, said; "No."

Reports circulated on social media a few days ago, alleging that the DR Congo police chief had signed an agreement with his Rwandan counterpart to send police officers to Goma.

On Monday, demonstrations erupted in the eastern DR Congo city of Goma, reportedly protesting insecurity and a possible presence of foreign police officers.

According to local media reports, at least three policemen and one civilian were killed in clashes between the police and protesters, who had blocked roads and burnt tires.

Sources told The New Times that demonstrations have been halted. 

Earlier last week, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Munyuza signed a cooperation agreement with his Congolese counterpart Commissioner General Dieudonné Amuli Bahigwa to join efforts in the fight against terrorism, among other security issues in the region.

CP Kabera said the agreement did not include any element of sending Rwandan police officers to DR Congo.

Regional police organisation

In mid-October police chiefs from 14 member countries of the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) met in the Congolese capital Kinshasa and agreed to establish a regional police unit with headquarters in Goma.

According to Vincent Karega, Rwanda's ambassador to the DR Congo, the EAPCCO efforts to establish the suggested police unit have not yet materialized.

"There is no Rwandan police or army in the DRC," Karega said in a tweet on Monday. "There is no reason for a presence in the DR Congo. Regional anti-terrorist projects under EAPCO are not yet effective in the DR Congo to date."

In another tweet, Amb. Karega condemned what he described as "tendentious interpretation" because the establishment of an anti-terrorist organisation in Goma "is a regional discussion and not an action carried out without legal framework or establishment of the host country."