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South Africa: Help for Congolese Cops

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
NEWS
November 10, 2004
Posted to the web November 10, 2004
Johannesburg
The South African Police Service (SAPS) is helping the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) develop its policing system through a multi-million dollar training
programme.
The 10-year Development Assistance Programme is currently in its first phase,
which kicked off in July this year and will run until the DRC goes to polls
next year, according to SAPS programme manager Jap Burger.
The estimated budget for the first two phases of the three-phase project is
about US $36.9 million. Burger said funding was being discussed with various
donors, but operational funding was currently being provided by the SAPS
budget. Over 100 members of the DRC national police have so far received
training.
"As a country which, itself, had to go through this process 10 years ago, South
Africa understands the regional challenges of a young democracy in transition,
of establishing a police service in a community which views policing as an
instrument of abuse, and the challenges of having to combat crime with limited
resources," Burger commented.
The DRC suffered five years of conflict between government forces, supported by
Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe, against rebels backed by Uganda and Rwanda until
the formation of a transitional government in 2003.

   

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