Kigali, 3 March 2014
President Kagame this morning officiated the opening of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Sub-Saharan Africa Executive Policing Conference. Held under the theme, “Contemporary Policing for a Safer World”, the conference aims at enhancing international police cooperation between police agencies in Africa and North America. The conference also hopes to advance mutually beneficial initiatives that will help in combating crime, ensure development of effective and collaborative information sharing mechanisms and develop long-term plans to achieve international partnerships.
President Kagame reminded the police forces in Africa to share the ideology of the nations and the region they serve;
“Our collective aspiration is to improve the livelihoods of our people; we can achieve this more effectively together. As nations develop, so do their institutions. The Police force must reflect the character, ideology and aspirations of their nations by playing a crucial role where Africa is on the path to rapid socio-economic transformation. Our people need a secure environment to effect socio-economic transformation.”
This is the third conference following two others that took place in South Africa in 2000 and 2006 respectively. In attendance were over twenty-five police chiefs from over forty African countries.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)was established in 1893and is committed to advancing the profession of policing by promoting enhanced practices, cooperation and the exchange of information between police and other institutions.