A team from the United Nations has begun a five-day inspection of Rwanda National Police (RNP) readiness to deploy its first ever Specialized Protection Support Unit (PSU) in Central African Republic.
The UN team from the departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support began the inspection on April 12, reviewing major contingent owned equipment that the unit will use while serving under the UN Multi-dimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
RNP already has a contingent of Formed Police Unit serving in CAR – and the planned deployment of this Unit is expected to compliment the mission by providing well trained and equipped RNP officers in VIP protection and other specialized police operations.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Jimmy Hodari, Commissioner for Peace Support Operation, said that the UN team seeks to evaluate the status of the PSU’s Contingent Owned Equipment (COE) and the officers’ operational capability to ensure that they meet the standard UN requirements before they are deployed in CAR.
“Within the capability and areas of deployment of this Police Protection Unit, the unit will be responsible for providing personal protection including static, mobile and rapid intervention response to ensure the safety and security of CAR high level officials in order to contribute to the conditions necessary for sustained peace and security,” ACP Hodari said.
“RNP is committed to continue to contribute in the prevention of conflict and the consolidation of peace and stability globally, as well as enhance partnerships with other countries through peacekeeping operations.”
RNP maintains over 600 police officers in eight UN missions – with 21 per cent of them female – deployed in Haiti, Mali, Darfur, Abyei, South Sudan, Ivory Coast, CAR and Liberia.
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