Peacekeeping course opens at Gishari

Fifty-two police officers from the eight Eastern Africa Standby Force Coordination Mechanism (EASFCOM) member countries on Monday started a two-week United Nations Police Officers Course (UNPOC) at the Peacekeeping Training Centre in Gishari, Rwamagana District.The course is conducted under the theme, “Turning Professional Police Officers into Competent Peacekeepers.”Deputy Inspector of Police (DIGP) in Charge of Operations, Dan Munyuza, while launching the exercise, asked participants to take it “seriously,” adding that they are “gates to restoring peace” in fragile countries.He described the participants as ambassadors of peace and said that such a course is vital, if they are to accomplish their duties effectively.“Rwanda having been affected by serious conflicts that resulted in one of the most horrendous attrocities in the world, is committed to ensuring such atrocities don’t happen any where again. This partly explains why, to date, Rwanda remains one of the main contributors to peace missions globally,” said DIGP Munyuza.He thanked EASFCOM for choosing Rwanda to host the course.The officers are from Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti, and hosts Rwanda.Superintendent Wanderi Mwangi, the EASFCOM-Police Component Training and Evaluation Officer, commended Rwanda National Police and the Government, in general, for its efforts in bringing about peace in different parts of the world.Wanderi urged trainees to make good use of ‘this opportunity’ so as to acquire skills and knowledge needed for them to professionally serve to the required standard. The course will tackle theory and practical exercises, challenges in mission areas and techniques of overcoming them. It will handle key issues such as the background of the African Union, the dynamics of peace keeping operations and the expected conduct, as well as discipline of a United Nations/ African Union Officer.