240 Police officers set for South Sudan peacekeeping mission

The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, Dan Munyuza, has challenged Police officers set to leave for a peacekeeping mission in South Sudan to look out for and support each other, and stay focused to the needs and execution of the mission mandate. He said that selecting and sending them to help provide security and ensure safety and peace in a foreign country speaks volumes about the Rwanda National Police (RNP) and country in general, which they should always stand for. The deputy police chief made the remarks yesterday at RNP General Headquarters in Kacyiru, where he briefed 240 police officers organised under Rwanda Formed Police Unit Two (RWAFPU2), set to be deployed under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The contingent, headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Eric Mutsinzi, includes 45 females and is set to be deployed this Friday. They will replace RWAFPU1 of 240 officers which will return home this week after a year of tour of duty. “You have been trained and equipped with skills required for service excellence and it’s now time to step in the footsteps of those you are replacing and apply those abilities for the good of the people of South Sudan,” DIGP Munyuza said. He also urged the police officers to understand the nature of mission environment, adding that pre-deployment and engagement planning will guide them to conduct successful operations. “You should be mentally and physically stable and maintain the team spirit while working with other peacekeeping forces to protect and ensure safety of the endangered communities,” he added. He urged them to build on the legacy set forth by the contingent they will replace, and preserve the values of respect, discipline, cleanliness and sacrifice, which are integral part of professionalism. “Bad characters paint a negative image of the entire unit, Rwanda National Police, and the country in general, and that’s a luxury that shouldn’t be entertained.”He noted that “leadership by example” is a guiding tool for effectiveness and discipline. Rwanda maintains about 1000 police peacekeepers in various UN missions. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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240 Police officers set for South Sudan peacekeeping mission