The Rwanda, for the first time in its history, contributes to the contingente of the Formed Police Units (FPU) in the United Nations peacekeeping operations. The first contingent of Rwandan FPU, the 160 people of the latter, are deployed in their base near the airfield of Jérémie since early April. Their presence within the United Nations Mission for Stabilization in Haiti (Minustah) is the culmination of 14 months of preparation.

Like other FPU contingent deployed on the ground, the Rwandan contingent will ensure multiple tasks, among which, the assistance to the PNH and UNPol during at-risk operations and the tracking of dangerous criminals. They will also support the National Police of Haiti in his daily work as the execution of mobile patrols and fixed checkpoints, escorting VIP or the security of sensitive sites.

Among these 160 riot police, there are 15 women, including a nurse, which are mainly dedicated to medical and logistical tasks. Vehicles, tents and medical equipment are on site. In total, forty containers were shipped by sea and by air. Moreover, these are a dozen jeeps, two ambulances and a hospital of Level I, among others, which are available to them for their operational needs. This is Rwanda, which was responsible for purchasing all equipment, to enable its officers to carry out their mandate to support the Haiti National Police (PNH) and especially its Departmental Unit of Maintenance Order (UDMO), in collaboration with United Nations police already present in the department of Grand Anse.

According to René Kentsa, spokesman of the United Nations Police (UNPOL), although UNPol and FPU are part of one body, their responsibilities are quite different. "The UNPol is composed of regular police officers who are not directly involved in the maintenance of order while the FPU includes police officers specifically trained for this task," he pointed out, stressing that the FPU Rwandan served within units of law enforcement in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.

In Haiti, they will "work with the PNH", said the head of the FPU, Egide Ruzigamanzi... "I am sure that we will work well with the people of Haiti and the PNH [...] The good cooperation with the PNH, in particular in the reinforcement of the capacities of the intervention forces UDMO, is our main task."

See also:

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2628-haiti-security-the-rwanda-completes-its-contingent.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2628-haiti-security-the-rwanda-completes-its-contingent.html

HL/ HaitiLibre