Commencing on Wednesday, August 16th, the recruitment competition for new agents of the Comorian police begins, divided into two phases: a physical fitness test and a written general knowledge exam. These assessments will take place across the three islands from August 16th to 24th. The General Directorate of Police and National Security plans to hire 200 agents. Grappling with diverse profiles and mismatched skill sets, the police force aims to effectively address its existing challenges.
According to the former Director-General of the Comoros National Police, this critical recruitment drive intends to enhance the effectiveness of the police officers. In an interview with the press, he lamented the current situation, depicting a police force with “diverse profiles and competencies,” leading to inconsistencies in mission execution. The former Director-General also pointed out that there has not been a recruitment process by law for the past 20 years.
Consequently, “a significant number of agents do not meet the required qualifications.” When approached for comment, the current Director-General of the police did not respond. Today, the police force aspires to have a team of adequately skilled personnel to restore its reputation. In the Comoros, civil society voices concern about the behavior of the agents.
Moudjib Mohamed Saïd, President of the Movement of Conscious Youth – Ngo’shawo, highlights the inconsistency among police officers towards road users. He asserts that “some officers are not even well-versed in traffic regulations.” He further states that alliances with certain motorists have repercussions on road safety. Some offenders seem to enjoy special privileges.