Kinshasa, 14 February 2011 – The UN Police Unit in charge of training, in collaboration with the Congolese Police Complaints Authority, initiated a week-long training for the National Police trainers which started on 14 February. All told, 3000 Rapid Intervention Police officers will receive six weeks of theoretical and practical training in Kinshasa. This will be at the rate of 500 elements per session.

The Police training Coordinator of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), Colonel Habis Al-Hawawshch, indicated that the training will be given in four modules covering pedagogical techniques, gender and human rights issues, maintaining public order, and quick reaction techniques.

While speaking to the trainees, he urged them to take this learning opportunity seriously, keeping in mind that the ultimate goal is to make the Congolese police units in charge of law and order enforcement a more efficient and highly skilled force, especially as general elections slated for November this year is drawing oure,near.

Zaomon Aubin Djanhoue / MONUSCO