The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Rwanda, Johnston Busingye has articulated the importance of strong partnerships between police institutions globally in security matters, as means to attain the desired safety and development for Africa.
The Minister made the remarks as he presided over opening of the fourth International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) – Sub-Saharan Africa Executive Policing conference.
The one day conference was held under the theme “Contemporary Policing for a Safer World.”
It’s one of the sideline meetings of the four-day 84th Interpol General Assembly that starts in Kigali on November 2.
“It is quite clear that the security challenges we face today are increasingly complex, as well as global, and require collaborative arrangements locally, nationally, and internationally to fight them…The duty of protecting man from fellow man is probably mankind’s oldest and trends show that it might not be ending soon,” said Busingye.
He went on to say that the balance between law enforcement, observance of the rule of law and human rights, proportional force, safety and security, internal discipline, ethics and integrity and others, is most often taken for granted as an expectation, but in real life it is not as straightforward.
“For your efforts to keep the balance you deserve thanks,” He told the police chiefs.
“This meeting is not just another occasion for Police Chiefs to meet, talk and return to business as usual. We believe such a gathering is a time for deep reflection and re-commitment. In the end it is not what we talked that will matter – it is the result of what was talked.”
Nations, noted, will not attain the desired development when there is lack of peace and security.
He pointed out that terrorism, trafficking in persons and illicit drugs are also two of the most heinous forms of transnational organized crime that continue to ravage the world and that the growing threat of cyber-crime is another challenge that gets more real each day.
“The Police does not deliver on safety, security and compliance with law to citizens as a favour. It is a role, in fact, an obligation in a symbiotic relationship,” Busigye said.
“When 410 indicted men and women suspected of masterminding, financing or carrying out genocide that happened in Rwanda in 1994 are still moving freely or successfully hiding in about 30 countries, we expect it to be a cause for concern at a meeting like this one.”
In a quick reaction, the recently elected global IACP President, Terrence Michael Cunningham said that forums like this are a better forum of discussing how countries can enforce indictments against suspected genocidaires and other marauding criminals.
“We cannot be efficient as law enforcers if we don’t have the support of the people we serve…. We are faced with global challenges, that’s why we need partnership, that is what IACP provides,” said Cunningham.
During the event, Inspector General of Rwanda National Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana handed over the IACP Regional chair to his Ugandan counterpart, Gen. Kale Kayihura, after successfully serving his two-year term.
“We should focus more on capacity building, increase collaboration and jointly discover new ways to confront the emerging security threats,” IGP Gasana said.
Rwanda, he said, has offered to host the first ever Command Post Exercise for IACP Sub-Saharan Africa for law enforcers in June 2016.
In his acceptance speech, the incoming chair, Gen. Kayihura thanked his predecessor for bringing police institutions and orgainistaion closer, during his tenure, to which he will build on.
“We are one a team both as individuals and as a region and continental level. We are growingly becoming a strong team in the face of cross-border security threats,” said Kayihura.
The Minister of Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana presided over the closing of the meeting, which also resolved that the next IACP regional conference be held in Uganda, next year.
Harerimana urged participants to close borders against criminals and emphasized to leave no gap that would otherwise be used by terrorists, human and drug traffickers as well as cyber threats.