IGP Gasana lauds Police peacekeepers

The Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana, yesterday met with the 129 Police officers who returned home last week after a one-year tour of duty under the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (Minustah) and thanked them for their professional conduct and discipline exhibited during their mission spell. The officers under Rwanda Formed Police Unit (RWAFPU IV) are part of the contingent of 140 officers, who include 17 females deployed in Haiti on July 4, last year, to support peace building activities. During a debriefing at the Rwanda National Police headquarters in Kacyiru, the Police Chief commended the officers for being “good ambassadors” of their country and maintaining the “Rwandan pride and spirit.” He urged the group to use the acquired skills to contribute towards the country’s development. “We have achieved a lot working with other countries, successfully hosted international conferences, fought crimes, and corruption in particular and this has continued to boost the country’s good image,” the IGP said. Crime rate declined by 5.7 per cent in the last six months and all the international meetings held in Rwanda were incident-free, according to the Police report released on Tuesday. The IGP also informed the officers of the Force’s commitment to ensuring security and collaborating with other regional and international security organs to combat cross-border crimes. The RWAFPU IV, which was headed by Chief Supt. Peter Hodari, returned home with UN medals for their outstanding and professional services in the Caribbean nation. The group was replaced by another 140 officers under RWFPU V, headed by CSP Freddie Murenzi. The mandate of Rwanda police under Minustah is to support humanitarian activities, peace building and to help build the capacity of the Haitian National Police. Rwanda maintains over 700 police officers in eight international peacekeeping missions. The missions are in Mali, South Sudan, Ivory Coast, Abyei, Haiti, Liberia, Darfur and Sierra Leone. RNP is also slated to send another two FPU contingents, one to South Sudan and the other to Central African Republic, before the end of the year.