In an official ceremony in Goma on 20 July 2015, General Vital Awachago Umiya, Provincial Commissioner of the Congolese National Police (PNC) in North Kivu, launched an election security training session for a first group of 65 police officers. The ceremony took place at the town’s Stade de l’Unité, in the presence of United Nations Police (UNPOL) officials, including Deputy Chief of Goma Sector in charge of training, and UNPOL trainers and their PNC counterparts.

Addressing the 65 participants present, the Provincial Commissioner said this refresher course is particularly timely as it will help prepare police personnel to respond to any eventuality and ensure security for the electoral process.

General Awachango indicated that the program is geared to train 450 police personnel in successive waves of 75 officers per week-long session, and that it will take 6 weeks altogether. There is no premium-pay for trainers or trainees, he said, before appealing to everyone’s sense of duty and responsibility, to the sense of dedication and abnegation of the trainers, and insisting on the trainees’ punctuality, regular attendance and discipline. He encouraged the trainees to work hard in a spirit of competition between units so that they may emerge from the final evaluation as the best unit.

The general welcomed the support extended by the MONUSCO head of office through the United Nations Police component by providing didactic materials (450 notepads, pens and markers), as well as trainers and supervisors responsible for follow-up after training.

Finally, General Awachango wished every success to this refresher course.

Immediately after the end of the training opening ceremony, courses began for the first 75 trainees.

Macky SISSOKO and Mbaye Sady DIOP