Making of peacekeeping experts

On July 12, 2012, twelve Rwandan Police officers serving under the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) were decorated with the United Nations Medal and certificates in recognition of their outstanding and exemplary performance in capacity building for the South Sudan National Police Service.

Rwandan Peacekeepers going to South Sudan. The New Times / Timothy Kisambira.

On several occasions, over the last couple of years, Rwandan peace keepers deployed mainly in Sudan and Haiti, have been recognised for their discipline and role in ensuring peace and stability during their time in foreign service.

The men and women have been called to intervene in times of conflict, recovery and reconstruction.

Despite global commitments – highlighted in the UN charter – to support peacekeeping missions, not many states are forthcoming when it comes to providing peacekeepers.

According to senior Rwandan officers, after being abandoned during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the leadership in Rwanda committed to contribute, within its means, to World Peace.

Rwandan police peacekeepers are deployed in seven countries around the world including South Sudan, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

To date, about 470 Rwandan police peacekeepers including 130 women, have been deployed in different missions.

Chief Superintendent Francis Nkwaya the Rwandan Police commander in the UN mission in Sudan says the peacekeepers are defined as “Rwanda’s ambassadors who should always endeavour to lift the country’s flag high in the areas where they are deployed.”

In addition to the police officers, Rwanda has more than 3,200 soldiers in Darfur serving under the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). Their mandate was, in July, extended for another year by the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU).

According to Lt. Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba, UNAMID’s Force Commander, beyond the desire to contribute to international peace and security, Rwanda, as a member of the UN and the AU, believes that Africans have a bigger role to play in solving the continent’s problems since they understand the challenges well.

Gen Nyavumba adds that it’s a constitutional obligation for the Rwanda Defence Forces to participate in peace support operations.

Prior to deployment, the officers under-go thorough training.

In 2005, the Rwanda National Police built its peacekeeping Unit which conducts training and deployment.

The peacekeepers tour of duty lasts 12 months with provisions for extension based on request of the host nations.

According to Superintendent Ejide Ruzigamanzi, the Director of Peace support operations at the Rwanda National Police, Rwandan police personnel were first sent to Sudan when many countries shied away from the cost of deploying troops in the volatile country.

In addition to the cost implications, the international community was concerned about deploying peacekeepers ahead of a peace agreement which later saw Africa’s second largest country split into two.

Supt Ruzigamanzi, explains that Rwandan personnel are preferred because of their experience in post-conflict policing.

“The results have been spectacular,” Ruzigamanzi says, adding that the peacekeeping efforts have saved lives in the areas of deployment.

Through their interaction with the communities they live in, Rwandan peacekeepers have participated in charity projects, building a bond with the natives.

According to Gen. Nyavumba, the troops are also involved in civil – military relations that have resulted to the peacekeepers helping to build schools and clinics, providing free medical treatment and increasing access to clean water.

“Results of peace keeping can be measured by achievements on the ground. In relation to Darfur, you must have realised that there is improved security and relative stability. There still remains a lot to be done but the achievements in terms of improved security cannot be overlooked,” Gen Nyavumba told The New Times. He, however, noted that there are a number of challenges including insufficient logistics and for Darfur, not having an all inclusive political agreement made their task more difficult.

Nyamvumba noted that unlike other missions, Darfur peace keepers were deployed ahead of a peace agreement which made it difficult to keep peace that was not there.

“So the mission had to work with the Sudanese and the international community to have an agreement which should have been there before the deployment of the force,” he said.

“Additionally it is never easy to have more than 40 countries with diverse backgrounds in terms of training, doctrine, language etc coming together and doing the same thing.”

Rwanda is ranked eighth in police contributing countries and ranked first in deploying female police officers, according to Supt. Ruzigamanzi.

Supt. Ruzigamanzi attributes this high regard to the institutions and country’s leadership.

Officers on peacekeeping mission, he said, must exhibit behaviour which conforms to the Rwanda National Police code of conduct.

“The central command ensures there is no gap,” Indeed, while recognising Rwandan peacekeepers in Darfur, the UNMISS Police Commissioner Dr. Fred Yiga thanked the Rwandan officers for their professionalism, commitment and dedication after they had completed their tour.

“This medal award is not a routine exercise. You have earned the medals and you should therefore wear them with pride” Commissioner Yiga said.