Rwanda to Host the 26th EAPCCO Annual General Meeting

Rwanda will host the 26th Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) Annual General Meeting from 26-31 January, 2025. The AGM brings together Chiefs of Police from 14 EAPCCO member countries to discuss key issues related to deepening cross-border cooperation to combat emerging security threats. It serves as a platform for enhancing regional security by addressing common challenges, sharing intelligence, and building capacity among its member states. It will be held under the theme: “Strengthening regional law enforcement cooperation to counter terrorism, transnational, or

Rwanda will host the 26th Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) Annual General Meeting from 26-31 January, 2025. The AGM brings together Chiefs of Police from 14 EAPCCO member countries to discuss key issues related to deepening cross-border cooperation to combat emerging security threats. It serves as a platform for enhancing regional security by addressing common challenges, sharing intelligence, and building capacity among its member states. It will be held under the theme: “Strengthening regional law enforcement cooperation to counter terrorism, transnational, organized, and emerging crimes,” tailored on the growing need for countries to work together in tackling increasingly sophisticated and cross-border criminal activities. The EAPCCO law enforcement body was founded in 1998 in Kampala, Uganda during the maiden meeting of Eastern Africa Police Chiefs, as a regional practical response to the need to join law enforcement efforts against transnational and organized crimes. The 14 member countries are Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Comoros, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Seychelles, and Somalia. EAPCCO Objectives includings ;to promote, strengthen and perpetuate cooperation and foster joint strategies for the management of all forms of cross-border and related crimes with regional implications, Prepare and disseminate relevant information on criminal activities as may be necessary to benefit members to contain crime in the region, Ensure efficient operation and management of criminal records and efficient joint monitoring of cross-border crime taking full advantage of the relevant facilities available through Interpol and to formulate systematic regional training policies and strategies taking into account the need and performance requirements of the regional police services/forces. The AGM key events include the meeting of Chiefs of Police—a supreme decision-making authority of EAPCCO—Council of Ministers, and sideline meetings that include the Permanent Co-Coordinating Committee (PCC) composed of directors of Criminal Investigations and Heads of National Central Bureaus (NCB). Other sideline subcommittee meetings include those on legal, training, cybercrime, gender and counter-terrorism. Each session provides a unique opportunity to share experiences, review progress, and discuss new ways to address challenges facing the region. This year’s EAPCCO AGM will introduce a new aspect of SWAT Challenge, a dynamic side event, to showcase the operational readiness and skills of police tactical units from member countries. It is scheduled to take place from 29-30 January, 2025, at the Counter-Terrorism Training Center (CTTC) Mayange in Bugesera District. Elite law enforcement teams from EAPPCO member countries will compete in various exercises designed to test their physical fitness, teamwork, and tactical expertise in responding to security threats. The event will serve as an opportunity to demonstrate the region’s capacity to respond to critical security incidents and promote knowledge sharing among participating teams. Rewards will be given to the best-performing teams, recognizing their dedication and excellence in law enforcement.