Reconstructing a Policing System Out of the Ashes: Rwanda's Solution

Abstract

Civil war (1990–1994) and genocide (1994) left the Rwandan government with the daunting task of re-establishing internal security. The policing model they have pursued, reflecting their regime ideology, is a hybrid model. It combines a modern professional and disciplined police force with the informal social control mechanisms of popular justice. The article, based on two months fieldwork in 2006, demonstrates that the model has provided an effective, popular and universally accessible policing that is not resource intensive. Yet its success has to be tempered by reflection that civil liberties have been compromised by an intrusive surveillance at local level, and by repressive responses to anything perceived as opposition to the ruling party at national level. Rwanda's special circumstances make listing durable substantive lessons with widespread applicability unwise. But, there is a case for re-examining the potential of using informal security structures with varying degrees of connection to the state in the overall national internal security strategy.

Keywords:

• Policing
• Rwanda
• Post-conflict security

Notes

1. The research was conducted from January to March 2006, and was funded by the UK's Economic and Social Research Council (Award Reference: RES-000-23-1102). Some 400 people were interviewed, including 18 senior police officers and 22 lower ranks of the Rwanda National Police; five local government leaders; five commercial security managers; three work-based security associations; two Local Defence Force leaders; The Ombudsman; and the Kigali Traffic Wardens. Concerning the experience of security provision, it included interviewing groups from Kigali commercial sector, Kigali residential areas (Kimisagara, Igihogwe), Butare residential areas (Tumba Gitwa), rural areas (Cyabatanze, Rugende, Jali), and small towns (Kibuye). It included groups of women, youth and “street children”. Key figures from the legislature, judiciary, survivors groups, human rights activists, crime victims, and the donor community were also interviewed. Without the co-operation of The Minister of Interior, The Minister of Foreign Affairs and, in particular, the Commissioner General of Police, this research would not have been possible. It should be recorded that the Rwanda National Police did all in their powers to facilitate the research and to make interviews possible.

2. Interview, Assistant Commissioner, Cyprien Gatete, Director of Training, 16 February 2006.

3. Interview, Morris Muligo, Deputy Head of CID, 1 March 2006.

4. Interview, Morris Muligo, Deputy Head of CID, 1 March 2006.

5. Interview, former Commissioner General of Police, Frank Mugambagye, Monitor 26 July 2004.

6. Interview, Assistant Commissioner, Cyprien Gatete, Director of Training, 16 February 2006.

7. Interview, Deputy Commander of Police Training School, 22 February 2006.

8. Interview, Chief Spt. Charles Shema, Human Resources, 13 February 2006.

9. Interview, Chief Spt. Charles Shema, Human Resources, 13 February 2006.

10. Interview, Chief Spt. Jeanonot Ruhunga, Director of Intelligence, 15 February 2006.

11. Interview, Spt. Jaques Rwagati, Butare Province, 24 February 2006.

12. Interview, Spt. Eric Kayiranga, Public order and security, Operations Unit, 10 February 2006.

13. Interview, Supt. George Rumanzi, Regional Police Commander, Central, 13 February 2006.

14. Interview, Supt. George Rumanzi, Regional Police Commander, Central, 13 February 2006.

15. Interview, Supt. George Rumanzi, Regional Police Commander, Central, 13 February 2006.

16. Interview, woman police constable in the intervention unit, 7 March 2006.

17. In 2002, a government-sponsored program trained 34 per cent of the police force. The training addressed communication with rape victims and witnesses, investigations, confidentiality, and interaction with health care providers, gacaca courts, and other institutions with respect to sexual violence victims (Human Rights Watch, 1999). The RNP's 2004–2008 strategic plan includes: campaigns to raise awareness of sexual violence; full implementation of the Child and Family Protection Unit; implementation of a training program on sexual and gender-based violence; preparation of a training manual on sexual and gender-based violence; measures to enhance the collection of forensic medical evidence. Rape cases are also being given a priority within the courts, courts are handling more than 100 cases a month.

18. Interview, Spt. Celestine Twahirwa, Director of Operations, 10 February 2006.

19. Interview, Francois Mvuyekure, head of LDF, Kigali, 31 January 2006. As a matter of fact, LDF members do not have powers of arrest, but in practice they make arrests on orders from local administrative officers.

20. In Kigali, they receive 20,000 Francs a month; but elsewhere they are not paid.

21. Interview, Spt. Eric Kayiranga, Public order and security, Operations Unit, 10 February 2006.

22. Interview, Aloysia Inyumba, Senator, 28 February 2006.

23. Interview, President of the Money Lenders Association in Kigali, 6 February 2006.