The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dan Munyuza, this week said the region will only be safe from cross-border and organized crimes particularly through continued and concerted efforts, collaboration and being proactive in daily operational tasks. IGP Munyuza was speaking in Arusha, Tanzania during the 6th Chiefs of Police meeting of member states of the East African Community (EAC)calledto discuss major security concerns in the region. The two-day meeting was organized by the EAC Secretariat and officially opened by the EAC Deputy Secretary General for Political Federation, Mr. Charles Njoroge. It was also attended by the Executive Secretary General for the Regional Centre for Small Arms (RECSA) Lt. Gen Badreldin Elamin Abdelgadir, and Head of INTERPOL Regional Bureau in Nairobi, Gideon Kimilu. Munyuza, who chaired the meeting, said that coming together: “Confirms that we all want our EAC region to be safe and secure to enable development”. He said that various reports adopted serve as guiding tools to enhance the respective customized and harmonized policing and to strengthen security systems to deal with cross-border security threats in the region. “Transnational crimes and other security challenges we face in our region need everybody’s attention and efforts if meaningful peace and security is to be guaranteed in our region,” IGP Munyuza said. The Police Chiefs and experts discussed crime trends and developments in crime management in the region, measures against terrorism, violent extremism and other emerging security threats in the region as well as disarmament and destruction of illicit arms and light weapons. Other areas include developing operational modalities and procedures for regional Police Centres of Excellence, legal frameworks on regional cooperation in forensic services, harmonization of Police Standard Operating Procedures and examining legal frameworks on integration of Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) instruments into the EAC tools. “Results of our collective efforts should positively be reflected in the performances of our respective institutions and establishments,” IGP Munyuza said. Cross-border cooperation falls under the priorities of Rwanda National Police (RNP) as an effective way to jointly respond to emerging security challenges that are transnational in nature. Over the years, RNP has strengthened its partnership with Interpol, joined other regional and international police orgainisations like EAPCCO, RECSA and Northern Corridor. Rwanda has hosted regional and international trainings and conferences such as the 84th Interpol General Assembly in 2015, AFRICA UNiTE CPX II, EAPCCO CPX I and II, IACP 3rd Sub-Saharan Executive Policing Conference, 6th Interpol Expert meeting on Genocide, War Crimes and crimes against humanity, among others. editor@newtimesrwanda.com
