12 February 2014 - To enhance safety in the protection of civilians (POC) site at UNMISS Tomping base, South Sudan and UN police officers searched the Juba base and its surrounds today.

“We got information that some of our South Sudanese civilians … and some soldiers were holding guns and brought them into the UNMISS compound,” said Maj. Gen. Saeed Shahu Lom of the South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS).

“All of us together as a combined force are (inspecting) the area… to make sure it is free from all sorts of guns and explosives which can harm civilians,” he said.

UNMISS Deputy Police Commissioner Sanjay Kundu said there was a possibility that weapons were buried outside the perimeter of the UN compound in Tomping, according to intelligence reports.

He added that the ongoing operation, which was led by SSNPS in collaboration with UNPOL and UN Mine Action Service “sniffer” dogs, had unearthed one gun and several armed force uniforms.

“This exercise is extremely important for the safety of the UN camp, staff as well as the IDPs (internally displaced people) inside the POC site,” said Mr. Kundu. “This is helpful to maintain the civilian character of the site and to make it crime-free and weapon-free.”

The Deputy Police Commissioner said SSNPS officers had led and performed well in the exercise, adding that it was also a form of capacity building for the local police.