Rwanda National Police

Thirty Police students from nine African countries currently attending the 7th Police Senior Command and Staff Course (PSCSC), on April 15, began a study tour as part of their one year course at the National Police College (NPC) in Musanze District.

The students are from Sudan, Namibia, Nigeria, Liberia, South Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Central African Republic (CAR) and Rwanda, the host.

On the first day of their internal tour, students visited the Ministry of Justice, where they were received and briefed by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Johnston Busingye, on developments in the justice sector.

The students intended to also, learn more about Gacaca—the traditional court—and its contributions in achieving Justice and reconciliation.

Minister Busingye told the students that Gacaca courts were established to render justice while also helping in the reconciliation process of Rwandans because the horrors that the country faced were unimaginable. “After the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi everything was broken, and so was the justice system.”

Gacaca courts were revived in 2002 as a way to process the millions of criminal cases that arose following the genocide. They are credited with laying the foundation for peace, reconciliation and unity in Rwanda. The courts tried nearly two million suspects within the ten years.

The study to be conducted in 14 local public and private institutions focuses mainly on justice, good governance, economic development and Rwanda’s history, among others.

According to Commissioner Police (CP) Christopher Bizimungu, the Commandant of NPC, the tour is aimed at “linking theories to realities on ground.”

The Senior Command and Staff Course aims at imparting to participants knowledge and skills in relation to strategic command, professional policing and executive leadership.

The course also offers a Master’s in Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation.