Rwanda : Vehicle thefts high between Rwanda, Burundi borders
Rwanda and Burundi Police forces have revealed that the theft, especially of motorcycles and vehicles and illegal cross-border are the major cross-border crimes registered, which are at times facilitated by the nature of borders, which are porous.
The remarks were made during a meeting to review cross-border security status between the two countries. The meeting was held in Huye district, southern province on January 9, 2012.
The meeting presided over by Chiefs of Police from the two countries and attended by officers from the two forces and Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF), was in line with the existing Memorandum of Understanding signed on July 21, 2011.
As way addressing this problem, the two Police Forces also agreed that the I-24/7 Interpol communication tool be installed at the common border next month and engage local authorities and security organs on both sides to jointly lay operational strategies to eliminate irregulars reported crimes.
Rwanda’s Police chief, Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel Gasana said “Timely sharing of information, joint training and operations are strong pillars for peace and security, sustainable development, crime prevention and combating transnational organized crimes,” IGP Gasana stated.
“We need to take another step forward to deal with security challenges that still exist as we move from commitment to action,” he added
The two forces commended the already existing cooperation which has yielded positive results, especially in the fields of training, joint operations and tracking down criminals.
His Burundian counterpart, André Ndayambaje, termed the partnership as a “means to security and sustainable peace.
