Rwanda replaces peacekeeping police in South Sudan
The Rwandese National Police (RNP) over the weekend started the rotation of its Formed Police Unit-One (FPU-1) serving under the United National Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
The first cohort of 80—part of the RWAFPU-1 contingent of 240 officers under the command of a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Prudence Ngendahimana—left Kigali International Airport and arrived in Juba for a year-long tour of duty on Sunday.
On the same day, another batch of 80 officers headed by Superintendent of Police (SP) Prosper Nshimiyimana, who had completed their duty in South Sudan, also returned home.
The rotation, which will be conducted in three phases, will mark the seventh rotation of RWAFPU-1 peacekeeper police since its maiden deployment in 2015 in the war-torn African nation of South Sudan.
Addressing the officers before their departure at the RNP headquarters in Kacyiru, the Rwandan Inspector-General of Police, Dan Munyuza, called on the FPU-1 to commit to the peacekeeping mission and maintain a positive image of the country.
“You will be representing RNP and your country, Rwanda, and you were prepared for this international duty. Focus on executing your mission efficiently with discipline, teamwork, honour, resilience, and professional character to uphold the Rwandan image,” Munyuza urged.
The new FPU-1 is arriving in the country at a time when UNMISS’s protection role is most needed in some parts of the country due to ongoing subnational violence that has displaced thousands.
Rwanda is one of the contributing peacekeeping force countries and will have a major responsibility to ensure the security of the South Sudanese, who fled the violent conflicts and are currently in the Protection of Civilian (PoC) camp in Malakal.
Last month, the Security Council renewed the UNMISS mandate for another year until March 15, 2023, with 17,000 troops and 2,101 police personnel.
The mission is expected to bolster efforts to deliver on its core mandate of tackling conflict-related sexual violence, which has continued to be one of the most traumatic features of the conflict in the country.
