Rwanda National Police

Rwanda National Police (RNP) peacekeepers serving under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Central African Republic (MINUSCA) were this Saturday joined by residents in Rwanda’s monthly tradition – Umuganda.

The communal exercise was conducted in M’poko in the capital Bangui where the Rwandan peacekeepers, local leaders in CAR and residents joined in environmental protections activities.

These included cleaning the streets, water trenches and collecting littered plastic bags.

RNP peacekeepers in CAR and residents during Umuganda.

The Umuganda exercise was presided over by the mayor of 8th Arrondissement, Dekaie Elizabeth, and Chief Supt. Benoit Nsengiyumva, who headed the Rwandan peacekeepers in Umuganda.

Umuganda, loosely translated as 'community work,’ is a Rwandan home-gown culture where members of the community, leaders at all levels and friends of Rwanda work together and help each other in development activities including constructing houses for vulnerable groups, schools, rehabilitating roads and environmental activities, among many others.

Rwandan police peacekeepers and residents of CAR cleaning water channels in M'poko.

Elizabeth thanked the Rwandan peacekeepers in CAR, who introduced this exercise, and urged the residents to equally own it and make it part of their culture.

She commended the role Rwandan peacekeepers play both in ensuring security of the residents, and such development, unity and reconciliation activities.

“This is a culture that is worth and valuable for us as well. It showcases the spirit of togetherness, reconciliation and peace as we transform our communities and the nation,” she added.

Residents of CAR joined Rwandan police peacekeepers in a group photo after Umuganda.

Chief Supt. Nsengiyumva told the residents that ensuring sanitation and hygiene is also a significant human security that Rwanda values in security and development activities, partly to prevent diseases that come with unhygienic conditions either on an individual or the community in general.

Rwanda maintains about 450 police peacekeepers in CAR including two Formed Police Unit (FPU) and Protection Support Unit (PSU) contingents, each composed 140 officers.