Sixteen Rwandan Police peacekeepers joined their counterparts from 44 countries serving in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in a route march dubbed ‘The Dancon March’.
The march held on March 10, was marked with a walk that covered 25 kilometers carrying a 10kg backpack.
Rwanda National Police’s Corporal Joseph Imenyabayo won the competition using 2 hours and 32 minutes.
He is part of the Rwanda Formed Police Unit Two (RWAFPU II) currently serving in UNMISS.
The DANCON march is a Danish Army tradition that began in 1972 and is continued wherever the Danish Army is deployed.
The march has been a tradition with the Danish Defence since 1972 when the Royal Danish Army was deployed on Cyprus. The march invites foreign troops, allied with Denmark, to participate in the 25km or 40km march.
In South Sudan, the march that was organized by the Danish Contingent in partnership with UNMISS welfare, aimed at promoting physical fitness and force morale (Esprit de Corps) and also serves as a social event that builds relationships among soldiers, police and civilian peacekeepers of different nationalities in mission area.
The competition brought together 350 peacekeepers from 44 different countries.
Those that walked all the way to the finishing line were awarded with certificates and medals.
Cpl Imenyabayo attributed his victory to the support he got from his unit colleagues.
“We worked as a team and pushed each other, my colleagues inspired me and the victory. This is a win for the whole team, our contingent and our country,” Imenyabayo said.
The Danish Senior Representative, Soren Glargaard Rich thanked all participants in the march and said; “This type of event allows us to create a spirit of cohesion and sharing.”
The RWAFPU2 Contingent Commander Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bosco Rangira thanked his team that participated in the competition and for their teamwork that helped them to win.
He further stressed that it is a culture to maintain physical fitness of Rwanda Police officers to achieve their mission anywhere they are deployed.
The Express News
