KINSHASA, DR Congo, September 11, 2024 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- There are twenty-five actors working on the process of disengagement/deradicalization and social reintegration of prisoners. Congolese police officers, civil and military magistrates and members of the civil and military prison administration staff, including five women, who have been following a two-week training since Monday, September 9, in investigative techniques against terrorism and violent extremism and radicalization in prisons. The aim is to improve their skills in handling terrorism-related offenses in the detention centers of Beni, where people convicted of terrorism and serious crimes are incarcerated. At the end of the training, these personnel from the judicial chain will be able to prevent prison from becoming a breeding ground for terrorism, radicalization and violent extremism.
Tools to detect connections
How to read, use and analyse a telephone call record obtained following a requisition; manipulate geographic intelligence software for boundary survey and location operations; understand and detect connections in and outside the prison in order to enable rapid decision-making on the dangerousness of a defendant are, among other things, the points covered during the training.
This session, delivered by three sections of MONUSCO – Justice Support, Civil Police and Prison Administration Support – is also part of the context of MONUSCO’s disengagement and the transfer of skills to local partners. The originality of this training lies in the fact that it is delivered by Congolese trainers, who were themselves trained last year by MONUSCO.
One of them, François Kalonda, deputy police commissioner in Beni, says that the training (of trainers) he undertook last year radically changed his way of working, as well as that of the police officers under his command: ” The counter-terrorism training we received last year now allows us to alert our officers each time about what is happening next to them. I hold catch-up sessions with my officers each time to tell them what to do when they see something that looks like a bomb. As soon as we see a story like this, we alert the police officers who now know what to do: in particular, prevent people from coming into contact with the object, move people as far away as possible and call for help to avoid possible damage. ».
Fixing the flaws
Civil and military magistrates as well as personnel from the civil and military prison administration are among those trained, such as Captain Jacques Ndombe, judge at the military garrison court in Beni. “This training is welcome because we had many shortcomings. It will really improve certain things, certain difficulties between our officers and the judicial staff. Our partners wanted to involve us, the magistrates and the judicial staff, to improve all the shortcomings noted. We are in an area where terrorism is also at its peak, [cette formation] can help us to detect and combat the terrorism that is raging in our region here, precisely in Beni.”
Deputy Commissioner François Kalonda believes that the prison environment is conducive to radicalization, as has been seen in other regions of the world. He says that this training will help correct certain flaws that sometimes give way to recruitment for terrorist purposes.
Distributed by African Media Agency pour MONUSCO.
Source : African Media Agency (AMA)
2024-09-11 10:46:19
#Beni #Judicial #channel #staff #trained #radicalization #prison #
Table of Contents
Countering Terrorism in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Crucial Step towards Stability and Security
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been grappling with the menace of terrorism for years, and the need for effective counter-terrorism measures has become increasingly pressing. In a recent development, Congolese police officers, civil and military magistrates, and members of the civil and military prison administration staff have undergone a two-week training program in investigative techniques against terrorism and violent extremism and radicalization in prisons [[3]]. This initiative is a significant step towards preventing prisons from becoming breeding grounds for terrorism, radicalization, and violent extremism.
The training program, delivered by three sections of MONUSCO – Justice Support, Civil Police, and Prison Administration Support – aims to improve the skills of personnel from the judicial chain in handling terrorism-related offenses in detention centers. The training covers crucial topics such as analyzing telephone call records, manipulating geographic intelligence software for boundary survey and location operations, and detecting connections within and outside prisons to enable rapid decision-making on the dangerousness of a defendant [[3]].
The significance of this training cannot be overstated, given the DRC’s history of terrorist activities. The country has faced numerous security challenges, including the presence of armed groups and terrorists, which have led to instability and insecurity in the region. In fact, the UK Government’s travel advice for the DRC warns against the risks of terrorism, kidnapping, and violent crime, advising citizens to exercise extreme caution when traveling to the country [[3]].
In recent years, the DRC has made significant progress in combating terrorism, including the signing of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) in 2023, making it the 123rd state party to the convention [[2]]. This move underscores the country’s commitment to countering terrorism and promoting regional and global security.
The training program is also noteworthy for its innovative approach, which involves Congolese trainers who were themselves trained by MONUSCO last year. This capacity-building initiative is part of MONUSCO’s disengagement and transfer of skills to local partners, ensuring that the DRC takes ownership of its counter-terrorism efforts.
the fight against terrorism in the DRC is crucial for maintaining stability and security in the region. The recent training program is a significant step in this direction, and it demonstrates the country’s commitment to combating terrorism and promoting peace and stability. As the DRC continues to face security challenges, it is essential to build on this momentum and ensure that counter-terrorism efforts are sustained and effective.
References:
MONUSCO withdrawal
Strengthening Justice and Security in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been grappling with security concerns, particularly in the eastern region, where terrorist and extremist groups have been active. To address these challenges, the Congolese government, with the support of international organizations, has been taking steps to improve the skills of its justice and security personnel.
Recently, a two-week training session was organized for 25 Congolese police officers, civil and military magistrates, and members of the civil and military prison administration staff, including five women. The training, which was delivered by three sections of MONUSCO – Justice Support, Civil Police, and Prison Administration Support – aimed to enhance the skills of these personnel in investigative techniques against terrorism and violent extremism and radicalization in prisons [[3]].
The training covered various topics, including
