After the devastating genocide in 1994, when nearly one million people were killed in just 100 days, Rwanda had three police services - one gendarmerie, one criminal police and one municipal police service. The Rwanda National Police, now responsible for all policing in the country, was formed in 2000.
The Rwandan police approached Sweden for help in improving its efficiency and service delivery. Since the Swedish and South African police had been working together for several years, Tommy Bringholm, project coordinator on the Swedish side, says it “seemed natural” to bring the South Africans on board.
Cooperation between the three police services includes criminal investigations, community policing, accountability, training, women's empowerment and management.
Although the programme is now running smoothly, it was not without teething troubles.“Development cooperation of this kind is neither uncomplicated, nor without complications,” says Bringholm. “Finding the right level of ambition for each contribution can be difficult, especially since the Rwandan police found it hard to prioritise among the problems they faced in their everyday work.”
Dr Mala Singh, deputy national commissioner of the South African Police Service, says the programme had a slow start, which caused some frustration on all sides. “But now we have a programme management structure including all three countries. The Rwandan commissioner-general drives the agenda and influences the priorities. Rwanda has taken full ownership of the programme.
“Its important to have realistic expectations,” she continues. “Sweden and South Africa were impatient at first. Now it’s Rwanda that determines the pace. “
Many believe the tripartite police programme can be used as a model for future tripartite cooperation with other countries.
“We have really seen the benefit and value added for the recipient country,” says Singh.
> Read more about Swedish-South African police cooperation