On Monday, July 3, 2026, the Secretary General of the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), Col (Rtd) Pacifique Kabanda, reminded participants at the USALAMA operation meeting that beyond arrests and seizures, its activities also strengthen cooperation between countries in fighting crime and protecting public safety.
Operation USALAMA is an annual initiative coordinated by the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) and the Southern Africa Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (SARPCCO), aimed at combating terrorism, transnational crime, and substandard goods. It is also supported by INTERPOL.
The meeting held in Kigali on Monday, August 3, 2026, was intended to review the achievements of the operation and identify areas for improvement to increase its effectiveness.
In his opening remarks, RIB Secretary General Col (Rtd) Pacifique Kabanda said that the results of Operation USALAMA should not only be seen in the numbers of arrests and seizures but also in the cooperation built among countries within EAPCCO and SARPCCO.
He said: “The results of Operation USALAMA should not be measured only by the numbers of arrests and seizures but also as a way of committing to lasting cooperation in investigating crimes, pooling activities and resources to protect citizens and national borders.”
The RIB Secretary General urged participants to share knowledge, best practices, and adopt new strategies to strengthen this cooperation in security and in the activities of USALAMA in the region.
EAPCCO brings together 14 countries: Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Comoros, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Seychelles, and Somalia.
SARPCCO includes Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
