BENIN: FIRST FEMALE POLICE COMMISSIONER TAKES OFFICE

UNCLAS COTONOU 000261 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W ACOOK LONDON FOR PETER LORD PARIS FOR BKANEDA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC BN SUBJECT: BENIN: FIRST FEMALE POLICE COMMISSIONER TAKES OFFICE ¶1. On June 17, 2009 Ms. Gislaine Sewanoude Bocovo was sworn in as the first female Police Commissioner (roughly equivalent to the Police Captain's position in the U.S.) who has ever held such a position in the history of Benin. High ranking officials, including Ministry officials, Police Officers, local authorities and political leaders attended the inauguration ceremony that took place at the Police Station of Xwlacodji, an area in Cotonou, where Ms. Bocovo will be working. The Police Station of Xwlacodji is located in the Cotonou's fifth arrondissement. ¶2. In Minister of Interior and Public Security, Armand Zinzindohoue's address, he said that Ms. Bocovo was the first female Police Officer to be appointed at such high level of responsibility in the history of the Police. He stated that the increased number of women in the police through direct competitive entry examination reflected President Yayi's overall policy to promote women in public administration. He announced that two other female recruits had completed Police Commissioner's training and were under probationary period at the Cotonou Central Police Station. Additionally, the Police expects to recruit four more women through competitive entry examination and those will receive training at the Police Academy for deployment. ¶3. Ms. Bocovo said that she was aware that her new position is a daunting challenge and assured that she would utilize her intellectual and physical capacity to face it. BEGIN BIOGRAPHIC NOTE: Ms. Bocovo holds a four-year University Degree (Maitrise) in Law. She is 30 years old and single. She is the niece of Pascal Zinzindohoue, a locally employed Family Health Leader at the USAID Office, in Cotonou. END NOTE. ¶4. The Fifth Arrondissement of Cotonou includes the main Commercial Center of the town with various banks and shops, and the administrative center equipped with outstanding facilities. It also covers the area of Xwlacodji which is reputed to be a haunt for criminals including pickpockets, drug dealers, procurers and receivers of stolen goods. Therefore, addressing insecurity in the Fifth Arrondissement calls for enhanced measures, especially as there has been a significant increase in the criminal trend over the last few years. A real challenge for Mrs. Bocovo. RAWLINGS