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US promises more support to Rwanda 's peacekeeping

Xinhua, February 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

A US official promised Monday more support to Rwanda's peacekeeping missions.

Ambassador Phillip Carter, the Deputy to the Commander for Civil-Military Engagement (DCME) of United States Africa Command made the remarks at a meeting with Rwanda National Police (RNP) leadership in Kigali.

Carter led a team of officials from various US agencies to a dialogue on how to reinforce RNP's peacekeeping capabilities under the United States "Africa Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership" initiative.

Rwanda, he said, is recommended for tremendous efforts making in terms of global peacekeeping.

Rwanda is the fifth largest contributor of peacekeepers in the world and second in Africa. The country maintains about 5, 000 police and military officers in various peacekeeping operations, with about 600 of them being deployed in eight countries.

Rwanda also intends to deploy two more contingents of 140 Formed Police Unit (FPU) each, to South Sudan and Central African Republic (CAR).

"We are here to initiate talks with our Rwandan partners to examine how we can better reinforce the capacity of the Rwandan government – Rwanda Defense Force and Rwanda National Police – to rapidly deploy in peacekeeping operations," Carter noted.

The three to five year program looks to engage six African countries that have shown a clear commitment to peacekeeping.

Erica J. Barks-Ruggles, the US ambassador to Rwanda also acknowledged Rwanda's vital role in peacekeeping and internal initiatives laid to respond to international calls on peace building.

The Inspector General of Rwanda National Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana, thanked the US government for the support, noting that Rwanda remains committed to pursuing international peace.

Rwanda established a Peacekeeping Pre-deployment Training Centre at the Police Training School in Gishari, eastern Rwanda, named the 'Regional Centre of Excellence' to spearhead and equip regional forces with peacekeeping skills in various fields. Endi