Rwanda’s Commissioner of Police (CP) Christophe Bizimungu has officially taken over his duties as the new Police Commissioner for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
The new Chief of MINUSCA Police Component (D-2) arrived in the capital Bangui on Sunday following his appointment, to head more than 2000 Police personnel.
CP Bizimungu takes over from Major General Pascal Champion, a french national, who headed the Police component since 2019.
Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson, Commissioner of Police(CP) John Bosco Kabera said that CP Bizimungu was appointed after fulfilling all the requirements and passing related tests as a prerequisite.
“Commissioner of Police (CP) Christophe Bizimungu started his new UN responsibilities on Sunday, June 27, when he arrived in the mission area in Bangui to head the Police Component for the next one year but with an extention clause. He certified all the requirements and qualifications, and we wish him good luck,” CP Kabera said.
His arrival in Bangui on Sunday was also announced by MINUSCA on its twitter handle welcoming him adding that he will be “sharing many years of experience in Rwanda Police to contribute to peace and stability in CAR.”
The tweet was also shared by many other top UN officials including the Police Advisor and head of the Police Division at the United Nations, Luis Carrilho.
Rwanda maintains 349 Police officers serving under MINUSCA including three contingents; two Formed Police Units (FPUs) and a Protection Support Unit (PSU) each composed of 140 officers. Other 29 officers Individual Police Officers serve as ‘Police Advisors.’
CP Bizimungu takes immense experience both in policing and leadership. He holds a PhD in law from the University of Sussex in England and until his appointment, he was the Commandant of the National Police College (NPC) in Musanze District. Previously, he also served as the Commissioner for Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
CP Bizimungu is the fourth Rwandan Police officer to hold the D-2 position. Currently, Deputy Commissioner General of Police (DCG) Mary Gahonzire heads the Police component at the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNSFA).
Others who have held the top Police position in any peacekeeping mission include CP Bruce Munyambo–the Police Commissioner for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) (2016 to 2018) as well as CP Vianney Nshimiyimana in the UN operation mission in Ivory Coast (UNOCI) between 2014 and 2016. (End)