English
Kinyarwanda
Twenty eight Rwanda National Police (RNP) officers serving under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have been awarded UN service Medals for their excellent and professional peacekeeping duties.
The awarded officers, who serve as Individual Police Officers (IPOs), include seven females. IPOs act as trainers, mentors and advisers, among others.
The awarding ceremony was held in Juba Thong Ping Camp, on September 9 and presided over by the Deputy Special Representative of UN Secretary General (D/SRSG) Moustapha Soumare.
The ceremony was attended by UNMISS Police Commissioner, Frederick Yiga, Chief Operations of UN Police (UNPOL), Commissioner of Police (CP) Emmanuel Butera and other senior UNMISS officials, military and police components.
Yiga also awarded certificates of merit to the Rwandan officers.
In his remarks, Soumare thanked the Government of Rwanda for contributing to the creation of peace in South Sudan by providing Police peacekeepers to UNMISS.
He commended the officers for their professionalism and commitment, which helped to maintain good relations with the people of South Sudan and with the entire UNMISS Staff.
“Rwanda is the fifth largest UN Troop and Police Contributing Country in UN Peacekeeping. Throughout the system, Rwanda police peacekeepers are highly regarded for their training and discipline, and we in UNMISS are proud to have them as part of the Mission. You make Africa proud,” he said.
“Rwandan UNPOL officers have made vital contributions to the activities of the mission, especially in work undertaken to protect civilians. UNMISS and people of South Sudan thank you for your service and for professional manner in which you conduct your duties.”
He also thanked Rwanda for increasing the number of female peacekeepers in UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan.
“The women here today have shown the female face of peacekeepers, enhancing security and safety for local communities. In doing so, they have made the mission more approachable to society’s most vulnerable,” he added.
The Chief of Operations in UNPOL, CP Emmanuel Butera, noted that Rwanda is always committed to peace building and will continue to partner with the UN Family in South Sudan to restore peace and tranquility.
The Contingent Commander of Rwanda UNPOL in UNMISS, CIP Gaston Nsanzimana, welcomed UN’s appreciation and commended his contingent for upholding Rwandan values throughout their mission.
“During the past eight months, 28 Police advisors effectively carried out their responsibility with strong desire, professionalism and discipline where they have been based in Malakal in Upper Nile State, Torit, Bentiu, Bor, Kuajok, as well as in Juba,” he said.
“They relentlessly served on front lines for protection of civilians, monitoring and investigating human rights abuses, created safe environment for community activities and for delivery of humanitarian assistance and supporting the implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement.”
Meanwhile, a group of 170 RNP Formed Police Unit that arrived in South Sudan to serve under UNMISS was officially welcomed by the Police Commissioner for the United Nations Mission to South Sudan (UNMISS), Assistant Inspector General of Police Frederick Yiga.
He was accompanied by the Chief Operations in UNPOL, CP Emmanuel Butera, who met the new RWA FPU I in Thong Ping transit camp and updated them on the situation of South Sudan.
“The UN family commends RNP peacekeepers for their professionalism, discipline, and we request them to stay strongly committed to the restoration of peace in South Sudan,” Assistant Inspector General of Police Frederick Yiga said.
Rwanda has contributed heavily in the fulfillment of objectives of the United Nations by offering its share in peacekeeping Mission in Africa and worldwide. We also recognise the big number of female police officers in the contingent and appreciate this initiative.
