English
Kinyarwanda
By IP Francois MUGIRANEZA
In 2025, policing in Rwanda moved decisively beyond routine enforcement into another year defined by action, accountability, and results.
Across cities and villages, highways and households, the Rwanda National Police translated responsibility into visible impact—strengthening safety, deepening community trust, and expanding its role in national development.
From crime prevention and community policing to road safety, environmental protection, peacekeeping, and digital responsibility, the force operated across sectors that directly touch daily life.
Working within its core mandate of maintaining law and order and protecting people and property, the RNP can reasonably look back at the year with confidence. It was not just business as usual; it was a year of intensified delivery, broadened scope and tangible outcomes.
Crime Prevention, Community Policing, and Combating Drug Abuse
The year 2025, like years before, will go down as the period in which members of the police force expedited and maximized results across different sectors.
Over the past 12 months, there was a significant 15.7 percent decrease in overall crime compared to 2024, attributed to heightened enforcement efforts and active community engagement initiatives.
In his End-of-Year message, His Excellency Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda and Commander-in-Chief, said: "Through your shared determination, Rwanda continues to enjoy peace and stability. Our nation has achieved remarkable progress across various sectors, and the people of Rwanda appreciate your contributions, which have enabled them to carry out their socio-economic activities in a stable and secure environment."
The RNP strengthened ties with citizens through proactive community policing. The Defence and Security Citizen Outreach Programme (COP 2025), conducted alongside the Rwanda Defence Force under the Kwibohora 31 and 25 years of Police-public partnership banner, reached thousands of households.
More than 41,800 citizens received free medical services in internal medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, orthopedics, and dentistry.
A total of 70 houses were constructed and handed over to disadvantaged families, 13 bridges were built to improve connectivity in remote communities, and 10 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers were constructed to support early learning.
Additionally, 33 cooperatives made up of individuals who graduated from rehabilitation centers received financial support and various other forms of assistance to boost their livelihoods, while some 400 motorcyclists were provided with reflector jackets.
To promote sustainable living and clean energy, more than 100 households were connected to solar power, while clean water was extended to more than 3,000 households. The campaign also distributed water tanks and household furniture to communities.
Road Safety and Public Safety Campaigns
Campaigns such as “Gerayo Amahoro,” launched recently with a renewed focus on shared responsibility among road users under the new theme “Turindane, Tugereyo Amahoro,” among others, maintained emphasis on traffic discipline and reducing road fatalities.
Launching the campaign with new themes in Rubavu District, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), CG Felix Namuhoranye reminded drivers of their key responsibilities and invited them to be primary agents of road safety.
“You are carrying families that have a future, plans, and expectations ahead. Recognize them all and help them reach safely,” he said.
RNP combined enforcement with public awareness to protect citizens and instill a culture of responsibility on Rwanda’s roads. Throughout the year, the Police worked with local authorities and various safety stakeholders to sensitize the public on road safety culture.
Since its initial launch on May 13, 2019, “Gerayo Amahoro” has contributed significantly to raising awareness about traffic laws and encouraging safe behavior among road users. Reports show that road accidents are largely caused by negligence, recklessness, and a widespread lack of concern for the safety of others.
Safeguarding National Unity and Combating Genocide Ideology
Over the past 12 months, institutional officers continued educational programs and commemoration events to ensure the lessons of the past remain present.
By promoting national identity and unity, RNP strengthened the social fabric, emphasizing vigilance against divisive ideologies and fostering reconciliation.
While delivering a public lecture on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi at the Rwanda National Police Headquarters in April, Dr. Jean Damascene Bizimana, Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, reminded the audience: “The genocide was not a spontaneous act; it was a long-planned political project. Colonial structures and post-independence politicians fueled and institutionalized ethnic hatred, supported by different media outlets, political parties, and the army (Ex-FAR). This incited citizens to turn against their fellow Rwandans.”
Minister Bizimana commended the Police for their cooperation in combating genocide ideology and urged members of the force to be grounded in the history of the country to counter hostile narrative shapers.
Regional and International Policing Leadership and Cooperation
The year 2025 will also be remembered as the year in which RNP hosted the EAPCCO Annual General Meeting and signed bilateral MoUs with different police forces worldwide. Notable partnerships included countries such as Djibouti, Nigeria, Singapore, and Italy, among others, with delegations from RNP paying and receiving courtesy visits.
“This is a testament to the strong will to cooperate in our region, with a view to ensuring security and a safer living environment for our people,” said the Minister of Interior, Dr. Vincent Biruta, while officially opening the 26th Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) Annual General Meeting held in Kigali in January.
These engagements strengthened intelligence-sharing, joint training, and strategic coordination, reinforcing Rwanda’s leadership role in regional policing and international cooperation.
Peacekeeping and Global Security Contributions
RNP officers have, on a rotational basis, continued to be deployed on international missions, including the UN Peace support operations in Central African Republic (MINUSCA), and in South Soudan (UNMISS), and for security operations in Mozambique as well, where currently the force maintains over 2300 officers. RNP also participated in the SWAT Challenge in Dubai and elsewhere.
These engagements highlighted the Rwanda National Police’s operational capabilities and commitment to continental stability, while enhancing the professional experience of its officers.
Institutional Growth and Citizen-Centered Development
Hundreds of new officer cadets and thousands of police constables completed training courses, while retiring officers were honored for decades of service.
The inauguration of new police facilities and service centers expanded the force’s reach and efficiency, ensuring institutional capacity keeps pace with Rwanda’s evolving security needs.
Public Engagement and Security at Major Events
Through sports programs, youth tours, and diaspora initiatives, RNP engaged communities, promoted civic responsibility, and strengthened national identity, while securing major public events such as the 2025 UCI World Cycling Tournament, which was successfully hosted at an incident-free rate.
Both domestic and international events reinforced confidence in the Police, demonstrating readiness, professionalism, and a commitment to incident-free operations.
His Excellency Paul Kagame, during the recent RPF Congress, and in his New Year Message, said: "These forces, the Rwanda Defence Force, Rwanda National Police and other security organs, are the forces I have always wished to have."
As 2025 closes, the Rwanda National Police can reflect on a record of service that balances enforcement, partnership, and development.
From community programs to international cooperation, the force has shown that modern policing in Rwanda is as much about people as it is about the law, a model of trust, professionalism, and progress.
