New head of the MINUSCA Police component (UNPol) assumes duty

29 Jun 2021

New head of the MINUSCA Police component (UNPol) assumes duty

Maria Kabatanya

The UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has a new police commissioner – General Christophe Kabango Bizimungu from Rwanda. He was today officially welcomed to the Mission during a ceremony held in Bangui.

“It is not possible to achieve anything without peace. As police commissioner and as a human being, I feel a moral obligation to do what I can to promote peace in this country,” he said upon taking up his duties.

General Bizimungu will lead MINUSCA’s 2000-strong police component made up of 11 formed police units, one protection support unit and individual police officers. They hail from police-contributing countries such as Egypt, Cameroon, Congo-Brazzaville, Indonesia, Mauritania, Rwanda and Senegal.

In concert with the Mission’s civilian and military components, the MINUSCA United Nations Police (UNPol) is tasked with supporting the Central African government in its primary responsibility to protect civilians, advance the political process for peace and reconciliation as well as restore State authority countrywide.

The new police commissioner has close to three decades of experience in policing, law as well as justice and security sector reform from his native Rwanda, where he has over the years, contributed to the creation of a new military justice system, restoration of law enforcement institutions, capacity building of gendarmerie in a post-conflict context as well as been a part of peace support operations and national reconstruction and reconciliation processes.

A legal professional, he holds a PhD in criminal law and has held senior positions as head of the judicial police, and as a prosecutor, regional police commander, and commissioner for the Criminal Investigations Division, among others. He most recently served as the Commander of the Rwanda National Police College.

“My main priorities are the priorities of the Mission,” he emphasized as he assumed duty.

He added that he was “ready and determined to work with the whole mission” to advance the MINUSCA’s goals in protecting civilians and supporting capacity building for the Central African gendarmerie and police.

Peacekeepers with the United Nations police are currently deployed all across the Central African Republic – from the country’s capital Bangui to Kaga-Bandoro, Bambari, Berberati, Bria, Bangassou, Batangafo, Bouar, Ndéle and Obo.

General Bizimungu replaces General Pascal Champion (France), who led the Mission’s police component from 2019-2021.