The MoU was signed by the Inspector General of the Rwanda National Police, Felix Namuhoranye, and the Director General of the Djibouti National Police, Colonel Farah Abdillahi Abdi, on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the 26th Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) Council of Police Chiefs Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Kigali.
The Rwanda National Police stated that the agreement marks a significant step toward strengthening regional security and collaboration.
Rwanda has forged similar agreements with several other countries to strengthen international cooperation in policing and security in recent years. These countries include Ethiopia, Dubai Police, Botswana, and Qatar.
The AGM brought together police chiefs and representatives from EAPCCO's 14 member states, including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Comoros, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Seychelles, and Somalia.
During the event, IGP Namuhoranye assumed the role of EAPCCO Chairperson, succeeding Brig. Gen. Joseph Ninteretse of Burundi.
Addressing the delegates, IGP Namuhoranye emphasized the importance of a shared vision in tackling contemporary security threats.
He will lead the regional police organization for a year, overseeing efforts to promote and strengthen cooperation, as well as joint strategies against cross-border and transnational organized crime.
Expressing gratitude to his predecessor, he acknowledged the region's ongoing policing and security challenges, but stressed that they are surmountable.
"The most important thing is to maintain and enhance our unity of purpose, shared values, and commitment to working together to fulfill our organization's mandate," CG Namuhoranye said.
He added that strengthened cooperation and close collaboration would further enhance the organization's impact and effectiveness.
IGP Namuhoranye also highlighted the need for strategies to improve interoperability between EAPCCO and other regional, continental, and international organizations.
"We need to develop practical and real-time solutions to address contemporary security threats. We must become more agile, innovative, and proactive," he stated.
He underscored that issues such as terrorism, cybercrime, drug trafficking, and human smuggling can only be effectively addressed through prioritized, practical actionsâ€"including timely information and intelligence sharing, joint operations, and ensuring that officers are well-trained and equipped for the task.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-djibouti-sign-mou-to-enhance-police-cooperation
