Rwanda National Police

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) is committed to the country’s noble cause of using the home-grown security initiatives to cooperate with regional and international forces to bring about peace and security in conflict-ridden nations.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Damas Gatare, Commissioner for Public Relations and Community Policing in RNP reaffirmed the commitment in a press briefing held on September 18 ahead of the International day of Peace held every September 21.

This year’s International day of Peace will be celebrated under the theme "People Rights to Peace".

“The role of RNP in restoring and ensuring peace and security in and outside the country is evident and remarkable,” ACP Gatare said.

RNP is now engaged in eight peacekeeping operations, namely; Darfur, Abyei, South Sudan, Liberia, Ivory Cost, Mali, Haiti and the Central African Republic.

He also said that the force has hosted a number of regional and international meetings as a way of bringing forces together to draw a collective peaceful line and fighting transnational crimes in particular.

These major events include the third Sub-Saharan International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference, the 6th International Experts meeting on genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity which aimed at fighting impunity and the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO) Command Post Exercise.

Rwanda Police officers in various peacekeeping operations have been credited for their discipline, professionalism and exceptional results in working with local population to restore peace and security.

ACP Gatare further noted that He also said that the force engaged in other human security programmes such as donating heifer, providing shelter and health insurance to vulnerable families as a way of dealing with the root-cause of insecurity.

The 2014/2015 Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) by the World Economic Forum ranked Rwanda the first country in Africa  and 21st globally where citizens trust and rely on Police services to enforce law and order.

All these achievements, he observed, was inevitable due to the good leadership under the guidance of President Paul Kagame.

Jean Baptiste Habyarimana, the Executive Secretary of the National Unity and and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) said, “Peace is something our children and generations have to inherit.”

“Let’s all stick on our bonds and prioritize the spirit of Rwandaness which is key pillar to sustainable peace, security and development,” Habyarimana added.

“Maintaining peace means sustainable development and everybody has the responsibility to work towards that,” “Lamin Maneh, the country coordinator of One-UN, said

“Rwanda’s leadership and security institutions addresses security challenges within and outside the country in a systematic and consistent way,” Maneh added.