Rwanda National Police

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Chairperson of the East African Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO), CG Felix Namuhoranye, on Wednesday, August 5, called for stronger regional cooperation, timely intelligence sharing and innovation to combat transnational crime.

He made the call while delivering the keynote address during the third day of the Operation Usalama Comprehensive Review Meeting in Kigali, which brings together delegates from EAPCCO and the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO).

CG Namuhoranye said the meeting provides an opportunity to assess the achievements of Operation Usalama, draw lessons from previous operations and identify measures to improve future joint efforts.

“Following its launch in 2013, Operation Usalama has become a remarkable illustration of the value of regional collaboration and coordinated law enforcement actions,” CG Namuhoranye said.

He highlighted achievements recorded through the initiative, including dismantling criminal networks, rescuing victims, recovering illicit goods and strengthening partnerships among law enforcement institutions.

The IGP noted that the changing security environment requires closer cooperation, innovation, timely intelligence sharing and continued investment in the knowledge and capabilities of law enforcement officers.

“The security of our countries depends on the partnerships we build and the decisions we make today,” he said.

He commended participating law enforcement agencies, regional mechanisms and international partners for their contribution to collective security efforts, urging delegates to develop practical recommendations for more effective future operations.

Also addressing the meeting, Senior Police Officer from the SARPCCO Secretariat, Ms. Thanyani Gumede, called for an intelligence-led, technology-enabled and multi-agency approach to addressing emerging security threats.

She said criminal networks are increasingly interconnected and exploit gaps between jurisdictions, requiring coordinated regional responses.

“The criminal does not respect our administrative boundaries; why then should our responses be confined by them?” Ms. Gumede said.

She noted that while Operation Usalama has recorded achievements, including arrests, recovery of stolen vehicles, seizure of illicit drugs and rescue of trafficking victims, challenges such as inconsistent reporting standards, uneven participation and limited use of INTERPOL tools require attention.

“Operation Usalama represents the most significant joint law enforcement initiative in our regions’ history. It is a testament to what we can achieve when we unite behind a common purpose,” she said.

Operation Usalama is an annual INTERPOL-supported joint law enforcement initiative conducted across Eastern and Southern Africa to combat terrorism, transnational organised crime and dismantle criminal networks.