Rwanda sends an all-woman police unit to South Sudan

An all-female Rwandan police unit boards a plane bound for South Sudan for a one year peacekeeping mission, on June 27, 2018. PHOTO | RWANDA POLICE 

In Summary

• The contingent is the first female team to be sent on a foreign mission by the country.
• Rwanda first deployed its police peacekeepers to South Sudan in 2015, according to the police.
• The country is one of the leading troops and police contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions.

By XINHUA
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Rwanda has sent an all-female police unit for deployment in South Sudan under the UN peacekeeping mission, the Rwandan police said Tuesday.

The contingent is the first female team to be sent on a foreign mission by the country.

The female police will specialise in public order management like crowd control, facilitating delivery of humanitarian assistance, escort duties and protection of UN facilities among others, according to the police.

Addressing the contingent ahead of deployment, Dan Munyuza, Deputy Inspector General of Police, urged the force to observe maximum discipline despite volatile environment.

"You are well-equipped, well-trained and disciplined. Rwanda expects you to adhere to the highest standards of behaviour and conduct yourself in a professional and disciplined manner and always strive to protect and promote Rwanda's image abroad," he told the female police officers.

Munyuza appealed to the contingent to maintain their commitment to and support for UN operations in South Sudan.

In 2009, former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon launched a campaign to increase the share of female peacekeepers to 10 per cent in military units and 20 per cent in police units by 2014, however the target was missed, according to the UN.

Rwanda first deployed its police peacekeepers to South Sudan in 2015, according to the police.

The country is one of the leading troops and police contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions.