UN calls for cooperation to combat terrorism

The UN Assistant Secretary General in charge of safety and security, Clotilde Mbaraga Gasarabwe, has warned of terrorism activities besieging the world, calling on countries to work with the international organisation for peace and security to prevail in the world. The UN top official made the remarks while meeting the top police officials at the Rwanda National Police headquarters in Kacyiru yesterday. The official who arrived in the country on Saturday was on three-day visit on behalf of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to meet local authorities to discuss various issues, including security and development.She said as some people struggle to develop their societies, there were others on missions of devastating what is being built adding that concerted efforts were needed among the leaders to safeguard their nationals.“We are challenged around the world as we work to make the world develop and for each country to have peace, there other people who wake up in the morning thinking of destroying what other people have done and that’s why we take this seriously,” she said.She said that countries have to be vigilant on such issues, adding that the issue was how to protect the people, and nations.Giving an example of Mali, the UN diplomat said the country had been peaceful but is now torn and divided into two and challenged by terrorists. This has paralysed all development projects.“You can see how fragile peace can be,” she observed.Mali, a former French colony, is a West African nation that had often been cited as a democratic model. But in March this year, mutinous soldiers in Bamako the capital rose up in a coup overthrowing the elected government of President Amadou Toumani Toure.In east Africa, terrorists have always destabilised Kenya, Uganda and Somalia, plus a number of militia outfits operating in the DRC, including the Democratic forces for the Liberation of Rwanda. The region also has the problem of pirates on Indian Ocean who abduct people especially foreigners. The most identified terrorists groups in Africa are Al Qaeda, al Shabaab and Boko Haram in North Africa.Rwanda police commended Mbaraga commended the national police peacekeepers on mission in different countries, saying that they have played a pivotal role in insuring the world peace. She said that in different countries she has been to where Rwanda police is deployed, nationals and top security officials hailed Rwandan peacekeepers for demonstrating discipline, professionalism and integrity in their operations.Rwanda has about 500 peacekkepers in different countries like Haiti, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Genuine, Sudan, South Sudan and Sierra Leon.During the discussion the Inspector General of Rwanda Police, Emanuel Gasana highlighted the police activities on the national and international scene including community policing and other activities aimed at promoting the welfare of nationals.He said that the Police was ready to continue promoting peace and security not only in Rwandan but also in other countries.Mbaraga is a Rwandan national who was appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.She was Resident Coordinator/UNDP in Mali, and served in the same capacity in Guinea and Djibouti, and as Deputy Resident Representative in Benin since 1998.Beginning in 1991, she held various positions within the UNDP in New York, including Chief of Division ad interim for Eastern and Central Africa, having previously worked in other international institutions.