21 May 2013 - The first batch of 371 South Sudan National Police Service immigration officers graduated today in a ceremony at Juba Stadium after six months of intensive training.

The 41 women and 330 men, who will serve in the Directorate of Nationality, ID and Immigration as revenue collectors, took their oaths of office before President Salva Kirr Mayardit and Minister of Interior Major General Alison M. Magaya.

Opening the event, Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan Daniel Deng Bul quoted the Apostle John as instructing tax collectors to "Collect no more than you are authorized to do."

Adding his own advice, the Archbishop said, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages."

Minister of Interior Maj. Gen. Alison Monani Magaya said the graduation was "another step in the transformation of the police into a professional and well-disciplined ... service, as required in our action Plan of 2011-2015".

Reminding officers of the Archbishop's words, President Kiir warned them against corruption wherever they were posted. "If you see my lorry loaded with goods or a new Mercedes Benz that belongs to Salva Kirr in one of our border entry points, arrest it and let me pay. That will be an example."

The president also told the officers to "remain vigilant to those entering our country with bad intents" and to "use strict criteria in obtaining our national documents such as nationality, ID and passport, which are for South Sudan citizens only and issued by your superiors".

UNMISS assisted with training the immigration officers, who are only the second group of police to graduate from Dr. Garang College in Rajaf. The graduation ceremony was attended by several other dignitaries, including UNMISS Special Representative of the Secretary-General Hilde F. Johnson.