Kisangani, 27 August 2012 – Thirty Congolese National Police (PNC) officers, including two women, from across Sud-Kivu province, just wrapped up a two-week training exercise at the instruction center of Kapalata, some 7 km north of Kisangani, the capital of Province Orientale.

The training was conducted by elements of the UN police at the United Nations organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), together with Congolese training experts. The participants were selected based on strict criteria requiring the candidates to demonstrate high intellectual, moral and physical abilities.

During the training, which ran from 13 to 25 August, the participants were able to improve their knowledge in the methodology and planning of a training session, as well as in the techniques for restoring and maintaining public order, and in the professional techniques for police intervention. In addition to these police prerequisites, the trainees, the majority of whom consisted of training instructors, were inducted on the notions of sexual violence and human rights.

According to the chief commissioner, José Mbangi, commander of the Kapalata center, this refresher course aimed at addressing some of the gaps identified among Congolese instructors during the previous three training sessions held at this same location. This induction training was organized in preparation for a wider training session for some 500 police officers who are currently in office, but are lacking basic training. «These elements will come from Nord Kivu and Sud Kivu provinces as well as Province Orientale, » the head of the training center said.

The next training session is scheduled for September and will last six months. It will be funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and carried out by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Aliana Alipanagama/ Radio Okapi/ MONUSCO