A batch of 16 Rwanda National Police officers has completed a weeklong fundamentals of intercultural competence and communication for policing training at the RNP headquarters in Kacyiru. The training was organised in partnership with the German Federal Criminal Police. Presiding over the closing of the training, Commissioner of Police Cyprien Gatete lauded the existing partnership between Rwanda and German Police institutions. He said such trainings are important to equip the officers with skills in cultural related issues. “Officers, in their policing tasks, encounter and police people of varied cultures and traditions, so it’s important for them to be well conversant with all skills required to deal with any policing challenges in all societies,” said Gatete. “Rwanda National Police prioritised, among others, capacity building, especially through training, to keep officers in the loop with skills required to professionalise their day-to-day duties.” Gatete challenged participants to be a value addition to the Rwanda National Police activities wherever they will be deployed, and share the acquired skills with colleagues in areas of their operation. Zeal to learn Katja Birnfeld-Paskin, one of the trainers from Germany, commended the role and professionalism of RNP in and beyond borders in peacekeeping. She thanked trainees for their discipline during the entire training, and their zeal to learn. Inspector of Police Donath Nyinawumuntu, one of the trainees, who spoke on behalf of the participants, thanked Rwanda and Germany for organising the course. The training, Nyinawumuntu said, helped them understand more how to police societies with varied traditions and beliefs, especially in peacekeeping missions. The training was designed to equip participants with skills in policing people with different cultures, cooperating with foreign police authorities more effectively and with greater understanding as well as adding communicative solutions as an option for action in daily policing situations. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
