To support the South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) in its efforts to rebuild confidence and trust, UNMISS Police Commissioner Fred Yiga today visited three police posts in areas identified for voluntary return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Juba.

The police posts, located in Khor William and Gudele areas, were built using funding from UNMISS Quick Impact Projects in support of the SSNPS Confidence and Trust Building Policing Strategy.

The strategy is a project which South Sudan’s Inspector General of Police General Pieng Deng Kuol initiated to win back the trust of the public and to attract IDPs living in UNMISS protection sites to return to their former areas of residence.

“These police posts are located in the most vulnerable areas  from where many of the IDPs came (to UN bases),” said Mr. Yiga. “The police posts are being supported to grow through the deployment of carefully selected officers who have been sensitized on critical issues.”

Between May and June this year, 104 selected SSNP officers participated in workshops which focused on areas like human rights, sexual and gender-based violence, child protection and community policing.

The officers were also equipped with the skills and knowledge on how to perform their duties aimed at increasing the confidence and security of the communities.

Females made up one third of the participants in the training, which was supported by UN Police as well as UNMISS Human Rights and Child Protection sections. This was particularly important because of the large number of women and children present in the UNMISS protection sites.

The first Police Post in Khor William was built by the UNMISS Nepalese Battalion and handed over to the South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) in November 2014.

The Officer in Charge at the post, Major Malese, assured Mr. Yiga that despite some challenges, SSNPS was getting very good feedback from communities in the area.

Although the other last two police posts in Gudele are not fully operational yet, the Officer in Charge at one of the posts, 2nd Lieutenant Joseph Ocaya Wilson, said 24 police officers, including nine females, had been already deployed to the area.

“The police officers deployed at those police posts are supposed to ensure that people who return home from the protection-of-civilian sites, regardless of who they are, are secure,” said Mr. Yiga.

To further assist in ensuring that the posts would be fully functions, the UNMISS Rwanda Battalion is constructing a five-room toilet block at one of the posts, located in Gudele Block 5.

In addition to establishing a police presence in the areas, implementing the project will also involve setting up an Emergency Call Centre, quick response teams and ensuring that houses belonging to IDPs are no longer occupied by non-owners.

“Many donors and well-wishers have contributed to the success of this project and UNMISS commends the Inspector General of Police for coming up with the idea,” said Mr. Yiga, adding that the initiative was very important, especially in light of the recently signed peace agreement.