The Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel Gasana, has commended the professionalism and conduct of Rwanda National Police officers in peacekeeping missions.

IGP Gasana was on Thursday debriefing 11 Police officers at the Force’s headquarters in Kacyiru, who returned last weekend from a one-year peacekeeping mission under the United Nations Operations in Ivory Coast (Onuci).

The Police chief thanked the officers for representing the country with distinction and urged them to maintain the spirit even in their assignments back home.

He further appealed to the officers to use the experience and skills they acquired while on the tour of duty to excel in their new tasks.

During their spell in the West African nation, the Individual Police Officers (IPOs) acted as trainers, especially against gender violence, advisers and mentors of the local police force.

Meanwhile, another 31 IPOs are expected to depart for peacekeeping missions in Haiti, Central African Republic (CAR) and Ivory Coast.

Rwanda National Police, which started its peacekeeping missions in 2005, maintains about 600 officers in eight missions currently.

Other missions are in Liberia, South Sudan, Abyei, Sudan and Mali.