Police peacekeepers return from Haiti mission

Rwanda National Police (RNP) has welcomed back a contingent of 140 officers that returned home, yesterday, after successfully completing a one-year peacekeeping tour of duty under the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Commanded by Commissioner of Police Bruce Munyambo, the contingent, under Rwanda Formed Police Unit Five (RWAFPU V), includes 17 females. The officers return with a record of exceptional performance, with UN medals and certificates in recognition for their outstanding and professional services in the Caribbean nation, officials said. They were received at Kigali International Airport by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of administration and personnel, Juvenal Marizamunda. Marizamunda praised the officers for maintaining a high level of professionalism and discipline during their operations in Haiti and urged them to use their expertise to advance Police’s mission of maintaining law and order in Rwanda. “You have made your country proud by upholding the virtues of discipline and professionalism, which has enabled you to complete your mission of promoting peace and security in Haiti successfully,” he said. “Now that you are back, you are required to use the skills you gained to propel the mission of the National Police through in your assignments.” RWAFPU V was replaced by RWAFPU VI of 160 officers that includes 22 female officers, which left on July 6, headed by Commissioner of Police Joseph Mugisha. Last month, the Police Commissioner for MINUSTAH, Serge Therriault, commended Rwandan peacekeepers for their exemplary contribution to Haiti’s peace building process. He noted that the UN family considers Rwanda as a very strong ally in international peacekeeping. Some of the work that the Rwandan peacekeepers have done in Haiti, include, provision of security in Grande Anse Region, public order management, protection of delegates and provision of emergency services to the local population. They have also promoted Rwandan values such as Umuganda (community works), through which they led residents in rehabilitating roads, supporting orphans and responding to disasters like floods. Rwanda has been deploying Police peacekeepers to Haiti since a catastrophic earthquake in 2010 that killed over 100,000 people, affecting over three million others. The country contributes about 525 officers to seven UN missions, including in Sudan, South Sudan, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, Haiti and Abyei.. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Police peacekeepers return from Haiti mission