23 August 2013 - Seeking to transform South Sudanese police into a professional force, a resolution was adopted at the end of a four-day police conference today in Wau, Western Bahr El-Ghazal State.

The first such event to be held, the Extraordinary Leadership Council was held by the South Sudan National Police under the theme "Shape ourselves to the mission".

Recommendations included in the resolution were to accept and verify a list of 35,778 police recently registered by UN Police, remove civilians and unregistered police from the paylist, and issue identity cards for registered police within 60 days of the conference.

The resolution also recommended that police authorities identify and act against bad behavior, prepare lists of persons behind cattle thefts in states and assist in trying to prevent such crimes, establish a finance unit within each state, and create a standardized SSNPS uniform.

"This effective and comprehensive resolution needs commitment from our police," state Acting Governor Angelo Taban Biajo said during the closing ceremony, urging police to work within legal provisions.

"We shall take this resolution as a notebook that will help us in the transformation process," said Gen. Marial Abur, representing conference participants.

South Sudan Inspector General of Police General Piang Deng said implementing the resolution would depend on UN Police support, calling on UNMISS to continued assisting the force.

Acknowledging that the police transformation was taking shape, UNMISS Police Commissioner Fred Yiga said the "journey" to write a report about successful police development in the country had begun.

National Minister of Interior Aleu Ayeny Aleu told participants, "Our mission is to prevent crimes, combat and investigate crimes and maintain law and order for this country."

He noted that police had agreed to respect human rights, treat citizens fairly and to be honest, transparent and accountable in day-to-day activities.