Police officers from eight member states of the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) have successfully completed a Command Post Exercise (CPX) in Musanze District. Conducted from the National Police College, the course aimed at enhancing the regional officers’ understanding and cooperation against transnational crimes such as terrorism, narcotics trade and human trafficking. The four-day training codenamed “Solidarity II” was officially closed on Thursday by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Administration and Personnel, Juvenal Marizamunda, The officers were drawn from Burundi, Comoros, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. In his remarks, DIGP Marizamunda noted that today’s security challenges have proven that no single country, on its own, can stand against transnational crimes like terrorism, human and drug trafficking among others. Law enforcement agencies, he observed, should join resources and efforts in their campaign against such organized crimes. “Modern criminals employ technologies and often act in concert. However, in national, bilateral, regional and international frameworks such as EAPCCO and Interpol, we have what it takes to deal with modern criminality. I am convinced that joint training and exercise plays like this one will continue to enhance knowledge and skills in effective communication and coordination in the fight against transnational crimes,” DIGP Marizamunda said. “Joint Command Post Exercises (CPX) contribute directly to strengthening our capabilities to respond to incidents of various natures and ensure the promotion of common standards and approaches in responding to crime.” EAPCCO is composed of 13 countries. Others are Djibouti , Ethiopia, Sudan, Seychelles and Eritrea. “The exercise was conducted as expected and participants are obliged to share the values gained with their fellow officers in order to promote collective action against transnational crime. We hope that next year’s training will be conducted in the same spirit by the host nation.” The Exercise Director, Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Butera, Commissioner for Operations in RNP noted that although the time for the exercise was limited, it was successful in providing enhanced understanding on the complex nature of organized crimes, and offered practical skills on the use of Interpol tools to officers in tracking and apprehending criminals. “The results we achieved were outstanding. We have reached the goals set by sharing best practices and procedures, with the aim of enhancing efficient communication and coordination among law enforcers in combating transnational organized crimes,” CP Butera said. “It is really impressive to see law enforcement officers in different uniforms working for the same goal. The real innovation of this exercise has been the involvement of all police capabilities engaged in response to main transnational organized crimes – and each of the participants has provided a great deal of experience which resulted to enormous value addition.” The joint play follows the maiden exercise also conducted in Rwanda in 2013, and is expected to be conducted annually and on a rotational basis. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
