Rwanda National Police

Three officials from the Centre of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU) in Italy are in the country for a pre-deployment training evaluation.

The team was received and briefed on the Rwanda National Police establishment and peacekeeping journeys at the force's headquarters in Kacyiru, on April 21.

Lt. Col. Francesco Borretti, the Chief of studies, evaluation and formation at the Italian international training centre, said that in the next five days, they will be involved in planning training activities for the second phase of the Formed Police Unit (FPU)

Training of Trainers (ToT) and a force that will replace the maiden RNP contingent that is currently under deployment under the UN Mission in South Sudan.

"This is an advisory team which is in charge of finding a way to accommodate as best as possible, the next FPU ToT and prepare a peacekeeping force that will be deployed in South Sudan in the next rotation," Borretti said.

"I have good experience with the Rwanda Police; we had the first training phase of 23 officers, who attended the training last year, we had a very good feedback and that's why we want to continue with the second phase and we are sure and confident that at the end of this phase, the test that the UN is going to perform to evaluate the officer's ability, will be really successful."

"We have best expectations because the first phase was very successful. We have seen that the Rwanda Police are really committed, very well organized and disciplined. These are the three most aspects that facilitates effective training and force professionalism."

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Jimmy Hodari, Commissioner for Peacekeeping Operations in RNP, in a presentation said that Rwanda's participation in peacekeeping is a "constitutional mandate" to ensure international peace.

Rwanda, which started to contribute Police peacekeepers in 2005 with 49 officers in the then AU/UN mission in Sudan, is currently ranked the fifth largest contributor of peacekeepers globally.

The RNP pre-deployment training last for three months and focuses on UN standards, mission specific environment, protection of civilians, environmental protection and Anti-GBV awareness as a preventive, response and to investigate violence directed to women and girls in mission areas, among others.

"The selection from various RNP units is done with consideration of required skills and experience in UN missions," ACP Hodari said.

Rwanda's participation in peacekeeping is eased by the fact that it's a bilingual nation and can deploy either in Francophone or Anglophone speaking country.