In the year under review, the Rwanda National Police (RNP) continued its vibrant pace to further ensure safety of people living in Rwanda and their property and to make it a safer place that facilitates development and investment in the transformation process.
To achieve this, it required realizing set targets and strengthening the concept of community policing locally and working with local partners, on one hand, and enhancing cooperation with regional and international police force on the other hand, to effectively deal with the ever changing and emerging security threats which are transnational in nature, largely facilitated by porous borders.
All these are summarized under the key priority areas which include capacity building, crime prevention and road safety campaigns, international cooperation, anti-corruption mechanisms, e-policing, and infrastructure development.
Locally, like other years, RNP continued to build its varied policing capacities and capabilities like training and acquiring more modern and hi-tech policing equipment in criminal investigation to support justice, road safety and procuring disaster response rescue vehicles.
Crime prevention and road safety campaigns
Countrywide awareness campaigns against crimes like drugs abuse, domestic and gender based violence, human trafficking and road safety were conducted to further engage local communities to be active in responding to security challenges they face in their localities.
A special awareness against drugs abuse and human trafficking was also conducted in all refugee camps and in 200 schools while over 700 Members of Youths Volunteers were given skills through training sessions in Crime Prevention.
Road safety campaigns were conducted codenamed traffic week April 2014 and Traffic Month in Aug-Sept, 2014, which contributed to significant road accident reduction.
The force further engaged in human security and community development activities in particular, to alleviate poverty, one of the presumed causes of crime.
Police Week dedicated to health and community development
The activities to mark the RNP 14th anniversary since it was formed in the year 2000 and 20th liberation celebrations – Kwibohora20 – held in June, focused mainly on consolidating RNP achievements in contributing to health and medical services especially offered by Isange One-Stop Centres and Kacyiru Police Hospital; and supporting vulnerable families.
RNP paid medical insurance premiums (Muttuelle de Sante) for 1, 500 people, gave ten cows and awarded eight individuals and groups with Rwf2.3 million for composing best songs and poems that promote Police-Public partnership through the community policing proactive approach.
Financial support amounting to Rwf5 million were also donated to commercial motorcycle and bicycle operators in Rubavu , Musanze , Kicukiro and Gasabo districts .
RNP and Gasabo district jointly donated five motorcycles to commercial bicycle operator to support and motivate them upgrade from bicycle to motorcycle taxi business.
The house built by RNP worth Rwf9 million was handed over to the beneficiary, Felicitee Mukankundiye, a vulnerable genocide survivor in Busasamana sector of Nyanza district and inaugurated the construction of other four houses for vulnerable communities in the district.
Other donations included mosquito nets, 420 mobile phones given to Chiefs of Villages (Umudugudu) in Nyanza to ease the communication in crime prevention.
Four completed Police posts valued at Rwf70 million were inaugurated in the sectors of Gahara, Mahama, Mpanga and Kigarama in Kirehe District and handed over to Police.
‘Police Book’ launched
For the very first time in the history of Rwanda National Police, a ‘Police Book’ was launched on July 31 2014, documenting policing triumphs in the post-genocide period and tribulations dating as far back as the colonial and post-colonial era.
The 260-page book comprised of six chapters, titled “Policing a Rapidly Transforming Post-Genocide Society” was launched under the theme “20 Years of Partnership in Policing.”
During the same event, RNP in conjunction with the Ministry of Local Government and One-UN-Rwanda awarded five vehicles to four districts and Kinyinya sector in Gasabo district, for their outstanding cooperation in crime prevention through community policing. The awarded districts were Ruhango, Rusizi, Kirehe and Burera.
Ongoing 4th edition of ‘Security and Hygiene’ campaign
The RNP and the City of Kigali, on November 19, launched the fourth edition of the competition in ‘Security and Hygiene’ among sectors and districts that will run until the end of May 2015. The campaign focuses on mobilizing citizens towards accelerating and maintaining security as well as sanitation in and around Kigali City.
Important issues to address during this exercise include; collectively fighting human trafficking, drugs abuse among the youth as well as domestic and gender based violence.
It also seeks to tackle challenges like noise pollution, fire outbreaks through installation of fire extinguishers on commercial buildings and other public places, initiating security awareness campaigns, timely information dissemination and sharing, restructuring of Community Policing Committees and tightening night patrols.
Major foiled criminal activities and arrest of suspects
Criminal plans of the FDLR were foiled and based on credible information provided by members of the public, 35 people including local leaders were arrested especially in the Northern and part of the Western provinces, over conspiracy against established government and terror activities.
TIGO fraudsters arrested
Two people, both ‘Super Agents’ of Tigo Cash, suspected of being part of a cybercrime ring that conducted a sophisticated scheme through which they illegally obtained Rwf495 million from the telecom company, were apprehended and the network dismantled.
Tackling drug trafficking
Four transnational drug traffickers, who were in transit, were intercepted at Kigali International Airport with 8.5 kilograms of cocaine valued at Rwf299 million. Three of the suspects, Rwandan nationals traveling on Belgian passports, were apprehended on November 18 with 7.4 kilograms of cocaine valued at Euro 296, 000 (Rwf254 million) and were on transit from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Doha and Dakar.
The four cocaine trafficker, a Ugandan born traveling on British passport, was intercepted on August 23 en route to Entebbe from Bujumbura with one kilogram of cocaine valued at about Rwf45 million.
Recovered evaded taxes
The Revenue Protection Department (RPD), a Police Unit attached to Rwanda Revenue Authority recovered over Rwf956 million from tax evaders and smugglers over the past ten months.
In November, three people were arrested in Kigali for smuggling 270 tons of rice and forging customs documents with intent to evade taxes amounting to Rwf62 million.
Counterfeit goods seized in Interpol-backed operation
Counterfeit and illicit goods including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and alcoholic drinks valued at over Rwf14.5 million were seized in Rwanda in an Interpol-backed regional operation dubbed ‘FAGIA Operation’ conducted between December 1 and 3.
The operation was coordinated as part of the Interpol’s ‘Turn Back Crime’ campaign which aims at raising public awareness of how crimes can affect people’s daily lives, from potentially life-threatening poor quality counterfeit products, to funding organized crime through buying fake goods.
Among those intercepted are 170 print cartridges, 1, 632 bottles of a locally made alcoholic drink called Agashinguracumu that were fraudulently packaged in the East African Breweries crates and 98 boxes of Vin de Tangawizi, a locally made illicit drink brewed by Umurage Enterprises.
This successful operation followed another one code-named “Wipe-Out “conducted in June where 500 print cartridges, 15 sharp television sets, vim, washing powder and other Uniliver products, 30 boxes of baygon, insect-side, 30 cartons of royco, food flavor, nido, a powdered milk and forged Nike, sharp and lacoste products like shoes and T-shirts, were seized.
Training and force development
- 458 Police Officer Cadets, 87 of whom were females were commissioned in March 2014 by the President of the Republic, His Excellence Paul Kagame. In a colourful ceremony attended by heads of security organs, government officials, and parents and relatives of the graduants, the Head of State promoted the officers to the rank of Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP).
In his speech, President Kagame said: “Today is a big step in the quest to uphold the law, hold those who break the law accountable and lead them to join the rebuilding of our country. I urge you to uphold your responsibilities to the best of your abilities, fight corruption starting with yourselves”.
- 1,323 officers, including 179 females completed the 10-month 9th Basic Police Course at PTS in March 2014 in the pass-out presided over by the Minister for Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana, who promoted the police recruits to the rank of ‘Police Constable (PC).
He challenged them to use the acquired skills to farther the force’s path to sustainable security. The event was also graced by the Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana, DIGP in charge of Operations, Dan Munyuza, Maj. Gen. Paul Rwarakabije, the Commissioner General of Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS) and other senior officers and local leaders.
- A total of 387 Police officers in December completed a counter terrorism course at the Police Counter-Terror Training Centre in Mayange, Bugesera district as the force continues to build capacities of officers in various policing disciplines.
The training focused on two disciplines; VIP Protection which lasted for three months and benefited 99 officers including 11 females, and Special Forces’ training in which 288 officers took part.
Minister for Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana presided over the pass-out.
Although Rwanda has not yet experienced public demonstration that requires police intervention, it is crucial for officers to acquire all modern policing skills, adding that it also helps them execute their duties well in peacekeeping missions, where they are charged with crowd control, among other tasks.
- 28 Police students of the second intake of the Senior Command and Staff course graduated in August from the National Police College in Musanze District. The officers were from Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Swaziland, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and Rwanda, the hosts. The one-year course offers strategic leadership and Master’s programme in Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation offered in partnership with the Centre for Conflict Management of the University of Rwanda-College of Arts and Social Science.
It combines Police components, which include ‘operational staff work of police’ offered by Rwanda National Police, ‘strategic leadership and management,’ (level seven certificate), offered by the UK-based Bramshill Police College.
· 30 Police officers including five from South Sudan National Police Services, on December 10 completed the third intake of the ‘Intermediate Command and Staff Course’ which was organized to reinforce and equip the officers with more policing skills in line with the changing policing environment.
The course also conducted at NPC covered courses in; routine staff work, operational staff work, insurgency and counter insurgency, introduction to campaign planning, leadership and management skills, basic computer and communication skills, crime scene management, media and community policing and international relations.
- 28 Police officers from Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya undergone a one-month Formed Police Unit (FPU) Training of Trainers (ToT) Course at the Peace Support Training Centre in Gishari.
It was the second intake of its kind to be conducted at the center dubbed the ‘Regional Centre of Excellence.’ The training was organized by Rwanda National Police (RNP) in partnership with the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) Police component.
Formed Police Units, among other things, support in humanitarian assistance, crowd control and escort of VIPs.
- A team of 30 fire fighters police officers from Fire and Rescue Brigade underwent a four weeks basic training session in firefighting techniques. The officers were equipped with valuable knowledge by Mugolds, a British expert company in firefighting.
The training answered most of the whys, to comfortably plan ahead of execution hence guaranteeing faster and effective interventions.
This basic training course will be followed other advanced ones including Training of Trainers (ToT).
- 162 Rwanda National Police female officers completed twelve-day United Nations Peacekeeping training, on September 12. The course was organised by RNP in partnership with UN and held at the former’s headquarters in Kacyiru. It was meant to prepare the female officers ahead of the forthcoming peacekeeping pre-deployment UN tests also called Assessment for the Mission Services (AMS).
The 5th ‘Police Women Convention’ was conducted on March 24 under the theme: “Empowerment of Female Police Officers for Sustainable Development.” The annual event brings together female Police officers to deliberate on how to solve issues affecting them in their day-to-day duties.
COOPERATION
RNP signed MoU with 25 districts to jointly enhance the fight against crimes and poverty alleviation in the region. Five others had already entered the unique partnership in the previous year.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Uganda and Rwanda Police forces, on March 3, met in Kigali and agreed to lay joint strategies to fight cross-border crimes and share policing best practices.
During the meeting that brought together the Police Chiefs and representatives from the four, they agreed on joint operations and training, exchange of criminals and information, among others.
Rwanda, Burundi Police chiefs meet over bilateral cooperation
Rwanda and Burundi police forces met in Ngozi Province of Burundi and discussed various policing cooperation areas as outlined under the memorandum of understanding signed in 2013.
During the meeting, a number of resolutions were also adopted. They include cooperation in responding to fire incidents, public order management, enhancing human trafficking counter-measures, sharing the existing I-24/7 communication network.
Rwanda receives Interpol flag to host next ‘General Assembly’
The Inspector General of Police, on November 7, officially received the Interpol flag, on behalf of Rwanda, as a symbol given to a nation that will host its next Annual General Meeting (AGM), set to be held in November this year in Kigali.This was during Interpol’s 2014 general assembly held in Monaco, which started on November 3.
Monaco Police Chief Asso Regis hands over the Interpol flag to the Rwanda Police Chief, IGP EmmanuelKGasana
About 1, 500 people from 190 member countries were scheduled to attend.
During this year’s General Assembly in Monaco, the Minister for Internal Security Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimanawho headed a Rwanda National Police delegation shared Rwanda’s experience and success of Community Policing as an effective tool in the modern policing arena.
Rwanda had an exhibition stand where it showcased its beauty and provided relevant information to the representatives over 1, 500 participants on capabilities, development and investment opportunities.
4th Kigali International Conference Declaration
The fourth Kigali International Conference Declaration AGM on the role of security organs’ in ending violence against women and girls was successfully held in Kigali between November 24th and 25thbringing together participants from 40 African countries including Chiefs of Security organs, representatives from military and correctional services, experts from major international, governmental and non-governmental agencies and prominent officials from the government of Rwanda, One-UN family and other development partners in Rwanda.
Organized by Rwanda through its security organs, the conference adopted 19 resolutions that will supplement the existing joint framework in the fight against crimes committed against women and girls.
Recommendations
The adopted recommendations include states allocating budget for smooth running of KICD, conducting continuous standardized and comprehensive trainings on VAWG including Training of Trainers (ToT) and holding the second Command Post Exercise in next June to enhance the capacities of security organs in dealing with Violence against Women and Girls in conflict and post conflict situations
The meeting also recommended “ISANGE One Stop Center” model in Rwanda as a holistic strategy to prevent and respond to VAWG, member states to equip police units with modern equipment to enhance evidence based investigations, Increase accountability of the security organs for quality service delivery in prevention and response strategies and to expedite the process of legal framework for the proper functioning of the KIC secretariat.
Formation of specialized working groups to monitor the implementation of resolutions on particular issues of VAWG and report annually, member states to adopt and strengthen the community policing strategy to sensitize the public to eliminate bad practices perpetuated against women and girls in the name of culture; partnering with Interpol and continued cooperation with One-UN; sharing best practices, information and research and best practice.
‘Turn Back Crime’ campaign launched
Rwanda, on November 25, became the third African nation to launch theInterpol ‘Turn Back Crime’ global campaign to strengthen awareness programmes against organized crimes under the theme: “Turn back crime against women and girls: the synergy of African security organs.”
The exercise that started with a ‘Walk to end Violence against Women and Girls,’ seeks to support the global police community in making the world a safer place.
3rd Sub-Saharan IACP conference
The two-day 3rd Sub-Saharan Africa International Association of Chief of Police (IACP) conference was successfully held in Kigali between March 3rd and 4th under the theme “Contemporary Policing for a Safer World.”
His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda officiated at the opening of the Conference. It was also attended by IACP President Mr. Yousry Zakhary and brought together about 150 participants from 40 African countries including Chiefs of Police, senior Police officers and IACP members to strengthen the professionalism, cooperation, exchange of information and experience among police forces.
In his speech, President Kagame said: “Our collective aspirations are to improve the livelihoods of our people. We can achieve this more effectively when we pull our resources and efforts. Our people need a peaceful and secure environment to effect this transformation. This forum presents a strategic platform to optimize opportunities and check frets to our chosen path towards a safer and more prosperous world. For this to happen, increased collaboration is both inevitable and the answer.”
Interpol meeting on crossing the impunity gap
The three-day ‘6th Interpol Expert meeting on Genocide, War Crimes and crimes against humanity’ was held in Kigali from April 14 under the theme “Closing the impunity gap.
The meeting, the first of its kind to be held in a country that experienced genocide brought together experts from 41 Interpol member countries, representatives of international organizations, civil society and academia. Various speakers including experts and heads of anti-genocide institutions recommended the need to cooperate to close the impunity gap to ensure that justice is served. They further called for a collective approach and implementation of international treaties and laws to apprehend fugitives of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, some of them who are enjoying safe haven in signatory states.
Rwanda’s “AFRIPOL” idea adopted
African Police Chiefs, during their two-day meeting on February 10th and 11th 2014 inAlgiers, Algeria, unanimously adopted Rwanda’s fronted idea of establishing a continental body;African Police Cooperation Organization (AFRIPOL) to effectively combat crime on the continent, jointly.
AFRIPOL intends to promote co-ordination at strategic, operational, and tactical levels through the assessment of threats, analysis of criminal intelligence, planning, and implementation of actions.
A delegation of three officials from the Turkish National Police (TNP) force visited the Rwanda National Police headquarters in Kacyiru, yesterday, and held discussions with the top management on how the two forces can cooperate especially in capacity building.
Peacekeeping operations
RNP continued its peacekeeping operations and promoting peace and security in other countries. About 450 police officers left for various UN missions. The force sent its maiden peacekeeping Formed Police Unit (FPU) contingent of 140 officers under the UN Multi-dimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
The second and fifth FPU rotations in Mali and Haiti of 140 officers each, was also conducted while Commissioner of Police Vianney Nshimiyimana took over as the Police Commissioner for the UN Operation in Ivory Coast (UNOCI)
Supporting sports development
The Rwanda National Police will continue to support the development of sports activities within the force and the country in general like football, handball, athletics and Karate, as one of the tools of social change, peace and development.
The Police Handball Club conquered the scene and made a high landmark, winning all the seven trophies in the seven competitions played, namely; national league, Labour Day, Liberation, Beach tournament, Memorial, Carré d’ AS cup and the Rwanda Cups
Police FC also clinched third position on their debut appearance in the CECAFA Kagame Cup which ended in Kigali on August 24 after edging Uganda’s KCCA 4-2 on penalty.
The RNP ‘Karate-DO’ club emerged the winner in the Kata category in a competition held in Rubavu district on October 12, 2014, which was organized by the Rubavu-based Zen Karate team under the auspice of the anti-drug abuse campaign.
Police Constable Console Birori also won a gold medal during the Ambassadors Cup held between October 3 and 4 at Petit Stade in Remera in Kigali, which brought together participants from five African countries, namely; Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
The 24-year old martial art player added the medal to other four silverwares in her career she won during the previous Ambassadors Cup, Never Again Genocide, Uganda Open Championship and the Gorilla Open.
Rwanda National Police
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