The Inspector General of Police, Felix Namuhoranye, delivered his silver jubilee address marking 25 years of the Rwanda National Police entirely in Kinyarwanda. Soon after, my phone lit up with messages from friends, colleagues and contacts. Some had missed the speech. Others had listened but wanted a clearer understanding of its significance.
What exactly did he say?
After revisiting his remarks, out of many, I picked out ten key takeaways that, in my view, capture the essence of the message.
1. Leadership Matters
The IGP’s first message was that strong institutions do not build themselves. He credited President Paul Kagame for providing the vision and guidance that helped shape the Rwanda National Police from its earliest days. He said; “Your (The President) support and counsel have been the compass that has guided every member of the Rwanda National Police on this long journey.”
2. Citizens Are Part of Security
The force was built on a simple belief: security works best when citizens are involved. Over the years, community participation has become one of the defining features of policing in Rwanda. “The role of the citizen in maintaining their own security in Rwanda is today a non-negotiable principle.”
3. Trust Is Built Through Partnership
For 25 years, the Rwanda National Police has worked alongside communities, other security institutions and international partners. The message was clear: security is strongest when people work together. “We have worked closely with citizens, various partners, other security organs in Rwanda, and police forces in the region and beyond.”
4. Rwanda’s Model Has Earned Recognition
What Rwanda has built has attracted attention beyond its borders. Researchers who studied the country’s approach concluded that cooperation between citizens and security institutions is one of the foundations of Rwanda’s stability. “Security and peace in Rwanda are the result of cooperation and interaction between security organs and citizens across the entire country.”
5. Young People Are Part of the Solution
The IGP highlighted the role of youth volunteers in crime prevention. Rather than treating young people as a challenge, the force chose to make them partners in building safer communities. “The authors used the example of youth volunteers in crime prevention, emphasising that homegrown solutions became the foundation on which everything else was built.”
6. Rwanda Made Community Policing Its Own
Community policing may be a global concept, but Rwanda adapted it to fit local realities. The result is a model rooted in Rwandan values, culture and governance. “The Rwanda National Police took the globally recognised framework of Community Policing, transformed it, and aligned it with the country’s culture, Rwandan values and national vision.”
7. Crime Is Changing
One of the most important messages was that today’s threats look very different from those of the past. Criminals can now operate from behind screens and across borders, making technology a new frontline in security. “A thief who wants to rob a bank today no longer needs to break down its doors. He does not even need to be near the building.”
8. The Force Must Keep Evolving
The IGP made it clear that past success is not enough. The Rwanda National Police is investing in technology, artificial intelligence and continuous training to stay ahead of emerging threats. “When that book is published, I ask that they title it; Police and Technology in Rwanda.”
9. Security Needs Justice
Security does not end with an arrest. The IGP recognised the importance of working with justice institutions to ensure that offenders are held accountable and the rule of law is upheld. “I commend the work of the Ministry of Justice and other relevant institutions in advancing justice by ensuring that perpetrators are prosecuted.”
10. Service With Dignity Remains the Goal
The final message was perhaps the simplest. The purpose of policing is not only to prevent crime but also to protect people, serve them well and treat them with dignity. “We remain committed to protecting the security of Rwandans and their property, delivering quality services, and conducting ourselves with professionalism and integrity.”
Note this, the IGP’s message was not about the past. It was about the values that have guided the Rwanda National Police for 25 years: leadership, partnership, innovation, accountability and service.
Those values, he suggested, will be just as important in the next 25 years as they were in the first.
I hope I have done justice to the IGP’s speech.
