IOM, US Build National Police Capacity in Democratic Republic of the Congo

GENEVA, Switzerland, December 2, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- IOM, in collaboration with the US State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, has launched a 2-year programme to help the Congolese National Police (CNP) to protect the population of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by increasing security services and civil protection of the population including widespread displaced people.

Under the US-funded project, IOM will provide training and capacity building to the CNP, with particular emphasis on sensitive, porous border areas, where the DRC lacks adequate technical, financial and human resources for border surveillance and control. The DRC shares borders with nine countries.

“IOM in the DRC is involved in issues related to internal displacement and complex regional cross-border movements,” said IOM DRC Chief of Mission Laurent de Boeck. “We therefore need to help strengthen the rule of law and good governance to be able to effectively address related migration issues.”

Several provinces, including Kinshasa, Kasai Oriental, Katanga, North Kivu, South Kivu, Province Orientale and Maniema, will benefit from project, which will build the law enforcement capacity of the CNP.

CNP departments targeted will include the Mining Police, which polices natural resource-rich areas, which are often a source of conflict and displacement. The Border Police and the Riverine Police of Lakes Kivu, Albert and Tanganyika in the east of the country will also benefit.

The project will provide specialized training, offices and equipment, including computers and other monitoring technology needed for effective migration management.

This project is part of IOM's “2013-2017 strategy for the promotion of the rule of law and good governance in the DRC.” The goal is to help the government to reinforce an organized and well-equipped security sector to ensure the protection of people, which should contribute to the restoration of peace and stability.

This programme will be implemented in collaboration with national stakeholders, including the national Police Reform Committee (CRP), the Police Reform Monitoring Committee (CSRP) and international actors involved in strategies including the Framework Agreement for Security, Peace and Cooperation in the DRC, the Second Strategy Document for Poverty Reduction and Growth (DSRP II), the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), the International Strategy for Supporting Security and Stabilization (ISSSS) and the Stabilization and Reconstruction Programme in Outgoing Conflict Zones (STAREC).