Law enforcement officers from the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) member states, who are currently in Tanzania for the Field Training Exercise (FTX), on Sunday, April 14, joined Rwandans for the 30th commemoration to honour more than one million people massacred during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Police institutions from six countries, namely, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan and Ethiopia are taking part in the three-day FTX 4th edition, code-named “Usalama Pamoja” which officially kicks off on Monday, April 15, at Tanzania Police School Moshi, Kilimanjaro under the theme: “Enhancing EAPCCO’s readiness in responding to terrorism and transnational organized crimes.”
Mr. Africa S. Apollo, the Chief Executive for the EAPCCO, said that as Rwanda commemorates, the EAPCCO member countries reflect on what happened in Rwanda 30 years ago when parents killed their own children, children killed their parents, and leaders killed the citizens.
“As members of EAPCCO as well as partners from other regions, we should reflect on what happened in Rwanda as we examine our own societies. We should stand warned that this kind of horror is possible anywhere as long as humans live there,” Africa said.
He added that this necessitates keeping an eye on the precursors of genocide like hate speech and divisionism.
“It is our duty as law enforcement officers and policymakers to do whatever is necessary to prevent any kind of divisionism and hate speech,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Ally Lugendo, the Chief of Training for Tanzania Police Force, said that Tanzania is humbled to join colleagues from Rwanda National Police (RNP) and Rwandans to remember innocent souls killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
“As we remember, we encourage our fellow police organs in this region to take this as an opportunity to put our efforts together to ensure that no other evil like this will ever be experienced in Africa again,” DCP Lugendo emphasized.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Barthelemy Rugwizangoga the Commissioner for Training in RNP, who is heading the Rwandan Police delegation, thanked the EAPCCO member states for standing with Rwanda in this remembrance period.
“As we commemorate and honor over one million people that perished in 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, I take this time to thank the EAPCCO leadership for this time to remember on our loved ones; men, women, children, brothers and sisters who perished within a period of 100 days; its an honor and to ensure that this never happens again,” ACP Rugwizangoga said. (End)