Rwanda National Police

A total of 162 Rwanda National Police female officers completed a twelve-day United Nations Peacekeeping training, on September 12.

The course was organised by RNP in partnership with UN and held at the former's headquarters in Kacyiru. It was meant to prepare the female officers ahead of the forthcoming peacekeeping pre-deployment UN tests also called Assessment for the Mission Services (AMS).

The female officers gained skills in areas of firearm, driving and language proficiency, among others.

Commissioner of Police (CP) Emmanuel Butera, the Commissioner of Operations in Rwanda National Police (RNP) officiated the closing of the course. It was also attended by Assistant Commissioner of Police Jimmy Hodari, the Commisioner for International Cooperation and other senior Police officers.

CP Butera challenged participants to exhaust the acquired skills in order to pass other future tests and to perfect their peacekeeping duties in countries where they will be deployed.

“I have no doubt that the acquired knowledge will enable the female Police officers to pass the assessment tests,” CP Butera observed.

RNP is among the leading contributors of female officers in UN peacekeeping missions.

He also thanked partners including Canada and UN and commended trainers for making the course a success.

Captain Garba Salama from Niger, one of the facilitators said participants were given about 85 percent of the work and information required to pass the UN Assessment for the Mission Services.

“We were impressed by the high discipline, seriousness, involvement and professionalism exhibited by the officers during the course,” he observed.

Captain Salama also thanked RNP and other institutions for supporting the training and having facilitated them to tour various parts of Rwanda.

Speaking on behalf of the course participants, Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) Alphonsine Murekatete, said, “We are now better, informed, and prepared to pass the upcoming UN peacekeeping assessment tests.”

The officers were also awarded certificates of merit.