The ceremony marking the completion of the border policing training course for 50 senior and low-level members of the Congolese National Police (PNC) and the General Directorate for Migration (DGM) was held on 28 June 2016 at the Kassapa Police Academy in Lubumbashi, capital of Haut-Katanga province.  The two-month training course was organized by the United Nations Police (UNPOL) component of MONUSCO in partnership with the International organization for Migration (IOM) and the PNC.

Several speeches marked the ceremony which took place in the presence of several personalities including the Provincial Governor and local administrative, customary and police authorities. Also in attendance were the Head of MONUSCO Office, the IOM project manager and representatives of the MONUSCO Police province.

In his speech, the Kassapa Police Academy commander welcomed the « fruitful and exemplary collaboration» between the PNC and its partners - MONUSCO and IOM – which “spared no effort to carry out this training”.  He then addressed the training recipients urging them to demonstrate professionalism and a sense of duty and to carry out their duties in accordance with the prescribed border police rules  and with respect for human rights.

Similarly, the different authorities in their respective speeches welcomed the fruitful collaboration between the Congolese State and its partners, before calling upon the training recipients to show more professionalism, loyalty, integrity and discipline in the performance of the their future missions for the benefit of the community. Finally, they asked the PNC and DGM to work together in securing the borders and fighting against illegal immigration.   

The Head of MONUSCO office, for his part, thanked all actors who contributed to the success of the training course. He reiterated the willingness and determination of MONUSCO in general and of the Police component in particular, to work on daily basis in this partnership dynamic alongside the PNC in the framework of the strengthening of the latter’s capacities.

The Provincial Governor similarly thanked the Director of Police Academy and all the partners for the efforts deployed for the success and smooth running of this training course.  He then urged the recipients to cultivate the following values: ardent love for the nation, disciple, love for work well done, and respect for human rights and freedoms. A parade of the recipients together with their counterparts of the community police, accompanied by enthusiastic applause from the public in attendance, concluded the ceremony.

By NIANG KHADRE Abdoul and Mbaye Sady DIOP/MONUSCO Police