UN Police component chief visit Rwanda camp in CAR

The director of the Police division in the United Nations, Stefan Feller, on September 12, visited the Rwanda Formed Police Unit (RWAFPU) camp in the Central African Republic based in the National Police School in the capital Bangui.

Rwanda National Police deployed a contingent of 140 officers under the UN Multi-dimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in CAR (Minusca).

Stefan, who is in CAR ahead of the Monday’s re-hatting event when the UN takes over the currently African Union-backed mission, was received by the RWAFPU contingent commander, Chief Supt. Benoit Kayijuka and other senior Rwanda National Police officers, who are part of the CAR peacekeeping mission.

“I came here to honor the arrival of Rwanda Formed Police Unit (RWFPU) and to do an initial inspection and to appreciate Rwanda’s contribution in restoring security and peace in Central African Republic,” Stefan said.

Rwanda National Police professionalism.

“My relations with Rwanda Police is very intense and long-standing and we value Rwanda’s contribution very much for several purposes; you are well trained, highly professional and dedicated for a solving implementation of police,” he observed.

“You are trusted by the population, you have a high degree of equipment; your Formed Police Unit is one example…it comes completely equipped to a degree meeting all the UN standards and that’s not the case with those that we are taking over from the African Union. You are excellent in terms of training, knowledge, gender representation and commitment,” he added.

RNP uniqueness in CAR.

Stefan, who has headed the Police division in UN for fifteen years, said RWAFPU arrived with a “specialty” of special police team for conducting professional high risk policing.

“We are grateful to have Rwanda FPU here,” he explained.

Stefan later met with commanders of seven FPU contingents that will be operating in the capital, and introduced them to the concept of Bangui task force.

“Commanders of all seven FPUs in theatre here in Bangui were introduced into the concept of Bangui task force where these seven police units and individual police officers amounting to roughly about 1000 police officers of the UN flag will work together with roughly 1000 UN military in order to contribute to securing the city of Bangui,” he noted.

“This is an unprecedented task and I have appreciated the commitment of all FPUs of UN to work together with their military colleagues to making this a successful exercise where we can demonstrate that we are committed to establishing trust in the population, and to establishing ground on which Bangui national Police and gendarmerie from CAR will be able to exercise the tasks that they need to take over again,” he added.

 UM– USEKE.RW