In a bid to prevent illegal acquisition of firearms, the Ministry of Interior on Friday, December 6, provided 83 gun safes to Rwanda National Police (RNP), the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISS), the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) and the Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS).

Speaking at the handover of the new storage equipment, Commissioner of Police (Rtd) Vianney Nshimiyimana, Head of the Small Arms and International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Interior, said that the gun safes will ensure guns and cartridge clips are stored securely, preventing them from falling into unauthorized hands.

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"Firearms must be handled responsibly, as even a single gun in the wrong hands can endanger an entire community,” Nshimiyimana said.

"While illegal firearm possession and weapon theft are rare in Rwanda, and there are no cases of terrorism, we must remain vigilant given our proximity to regions with negative forces like the FDLR,” he added.

Nshimiyimana said the new gun safes will complement existing storage facilities, particularly aiding deployed units in remote areas.

"Properly securing weapons is the first step in ensuring the safety of people and their property,” he said.

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Eric Kayiranga, Senior Advisor on Weapons and Ammunition at the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA), who attended the handover event, emphasized that the gun safes would help prevent the diversion of firearms and reduce the risk of them falling into the wrong hands.

He commended the Rwandan government for its adherence to the Nairobi Protocol on the Prevention, Control, and Reduction of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region and Horn of Africa.

Kayiranga urged recipients of the storage equipment to act as custodians by using them responsibly to ensure proper management of firearms, and minimise risks associated with poor weapon storage, which could lead to unauthorized access.

"While Rwanda has no cases of illegal weapon possession, the African Union, Nairobi Protocol and the international community mandate that every country establishe robust measures for secure weapon storage to prevent unauthorized access,” Kayiranga said.

"Although the situation here is not urgent, we are focused on enhancing existing armory systems and replacing outdated ones.|

Kayiranga revealed that RECSA has been working closely with the Ministry of Interior to enhance firearm management. They have supplied firearm tracking and identification machines, electronic software for weapon storage, and built secure storage facilities.

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Additionally, he said, they provided 300 metric tons of gun racks to streamline inventory and improved the management of weapons and ammunition through physical and security stockpile management training.

"We have worked with the Ministry to organize awareness campaigns, sensitization workshops and training programs for trainers. So far, two Rwanda Defence Force members and one from RNP have been certified in weapon and ammunition management, enabling them to train others internationally,” he said.

Rwanda currently serves as Vice Chair of RECSA, with Kenya as Chair, and is set to assume the Chairmanship in June 2025.

Benjamin Sesonga, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, emphasized the significance of proper weapon storage in maintaining lasting security. He highlighted the importance of equipping law enforcement agencies with the necessary skills and resources.

Sesonga encouraged the security institutions to use the storage equipment effectively and ensure they are well-maintained to fulfill their intended purpose.

Rwanda's safety and security have consistently been the top-performing pillar, earning a score of 93 per cent, according to the latest Rwanda Governance Scorecard.

Since the score was introduced in 2010, safety and security have consistently ranked highest.