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