Rwanda National Police

This weekly roundup highlights the Rwanda National Police (RNP) activities and programs conducted in the week under review in awake to further improve, safety, security and peace in the country.

RNP partners with Netherlands against Gender Based Violence

On Friday April 3, the Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana, was joined by the Netherlands Ambassador to Rwanda, Vasco Rodriguez and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Herriette Umulisa, to sternly condemn acts of gender-based violence (GBV) and child abuse, and called upon Rwandan citizens to actively campaign against the scourge in their communities.                        

The workshop attracted over 100 Police officers and medical personnel in the Isange One Stop Centers Multi Disciplinary Team operating throughout the country to help victims of GBV and child labour.

Isange One Stop Centres, which were implemented in partnership with Police, Rwandan government and the Netherlands Government, provide medical, legal services to GBV and child abuse victims and ensures that human rights are respected.  

In his message, IGP Gasana said that GBV is a cruel and inhumane act which cannot be overcome by individual efforts but by everyone living in Rwanda.  

The Netherlands Ambassador, Vasco Rodriguez, commended the crucial role played by RNP for fighting GBV and child labour, and pledged more of his government's support in the fight.

"Police and its partners have played a crucial role in three things that are paramount in overcoming GBV and child abuse. First, by conducting special investigations into cases, secondly by extending medical support to victims through the Isange One Stop Centres and three, by conducting continuous sensitization campaigns to educate the masses on the issue," he said.

"It is for this reason that the government of Netherlands chose to partner with Rwanda in order to work together in developing good anti-GBV models which can inspire other countries."

Rwanda National Police ‘CID School’ inaugurated

Rwanda National Police (RNP), on March 30 inaugurated the ‘CID School’ block constructed at the National Police College (NPC) in Musanze District which intends to reinforce the professionalism of officers in criminal investigations.

It will offer a four-month basic investigation course and Senior investigators  course which will be six months. The school will offer both theory and practical lessons and it will compliment skills of officers in combating modern crime.

The 20-rooms fully-fledged storeyed block boasts of a laboratory for practical  exercises  on crime investigations. Each room has the capacity to accommodate 40 trainees and will be open to both local and regional officers to jointly upgrade their skills in criminal investigation against cross-border and transnational organised security challenges among others.

The Minister for Internal  security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana, who presided over the inauguration event, noted that “Rwanda National Police always seeks to upgrade skills of officers” adding that the “new CID School will serve this purpose very well."

The event was also graced by the Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana,  Police commissioners and local leaders, among others.

Commissioner of Police (CP) Felix Namuhoranye, Commandant of the National Police College, said the school will respond to emerging security challenges brought about by development, information technology, free movement of goods and services and other issues identified from various spheres and institutions.

The current curriculum was developed by the National Police College and the Nyanza-based Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD).

While presiding over the official opening of the third intake of the Youth Volunteers in Crime Prevention that attracted over 500 members of “Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Crime Prevention”, the Minister for Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana reminded the youth that they have a specific duty to safeguard the peace and development that Rwanda has achieved by promoting patriotism and unity in their communities.

127 of the participants were female. The total number of participants also included over 180 police reserve force from various district.

“The leadership of Rwanda has worked hard to ensure that peace, development and prosperity flourish throughout the country. These achievements must be safeguarded by patriotic young men and women who love their country,” Harerimana said.

IGP Emmanuel K. Gasana commended the youth for their endeavour to preserve peace in the country by collaborating with Police through the provision of timely information to Police that has aided operations during crime prevention campaigns.

The “Rwandan Youth Volunteers in crime Prevention” is an organisation over  7, 000 young men and women countrywide including students, who support vulnerable communities by providing medical insurance, livestock and other needs. This in take will join after training.

They  carry out crime prevention awareness programmes in schools and communities against drug abuse, corruption and gender-based-violence, among others.

On March 31, Rwanda National Police (RNP) peacekeepers serving under the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (UNSTAMIH), unblocked the road that connects the town of Jeremie to the capital Port Au Prince and other cities, which had been closed by mudslides and floods.

This was after a two-day heavy downpour caused mudslides blocking the key road that links Jeremie to other towns, causing traffic and bringing business and movement of people to a standstill.

The Rwanda Formed Police Unit (RWAFPU5) contingent  immediate intervened and opened the trenches, removed rocks and mud that had blocked the road along the shores of the Caribbean Sea.

In the quick response, Rwandan peacekeepers were joined by Minustah officials and local leaders.

The local community thanked the Rwandan peacekeepers for the humanitarian assistance and serving Haitians “with love, courage and commitment.”

Commissioner of Police (CP) Bruce Munyambo, RWAFPU5 contingent commander, argued the locals to always engage in community development activities and work together to improve and open drainage systems to avoid such natural disasters.

“The contingent is willing to support you with any available necessary means in community activities,” he told residents.

Rwanda National Police maintains 145 peacekeepers in Haiti, with 140 of them under RWAFPU5.

Officer Cadets study Airport security operations

On April 1, a group of 240 Officer Cadets attending the seventh cadet intake at the Police Training School in Gishari, Rwamagana District, visited Kigali International Airport on April 1, and interacted with several officials on how safety and security is maximized at the airport.

They were led through a guided tour of the  airport  and it's security mechanisms, while they also examined how organs including migration, customs, cargo checking, and other security services  interlink and work together to ensure safety for the airport.

The study tours was aimed at equipping aspiring officers with the necessary knowledge to improve their efficiency while implementing Police mandates.

Another group of Officer Cadets visited Inyange Industries to experience production and supply chain of factories and industries, with an aim of increasing their knowledge about quality and safety of consumable products.

Such study tours are key to cadet officers because they are expected to handle various clients with varying complaints and in wide range of environment and situations that require vast knowledge and experience.

The guidelines were signed on April 2 on the second day of a workshop that attracted delegates from the three countries.

The Peace Support Operations - which are expected to be set up when the heads of state from the five countries endorse the guidelines in  the coming periods - are a product of positive negotiations that resulted from a  “Mutual Peace and Security Pact” signed in May last year, which aimed at establishing the Eastern Africa Standby Force.

The aim of setting up these operation guidelines is to safeguard and protect the fast economic growth of the three countries, whilst avoiding overlapping similar and separate cooperation under the Northern Corridor Integration Projects.

Other areas of cooperation under the Northern Corridor Integration Projects include; disaster risk reduction, management of refugees, control of proliferation of illicit arms and light weapons, combating financial, organized and cross-border crimes such as human and drug trafficking, money laundering and cyber crimes among others.