24 September 2013 - As part of ongoing efforts to improve the handling of ammunition, UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) recently handed over a newly refurbished armoury to South Sudan police force officials in Juba.

UNMAS Director Agnes Marcaillou inaugurated the armoury at the Central Equatoria Police Headquarters, at a ceremony witnessed by South Sudan Deputy Inspector General of Police Lt. Gen. Andrew Kuol Nyuon, Central Equatoria Police Commissioner Gen. Abraham Manyuat Peter and UN Police (UNPOL) Commissioner Fred Yiga.

The armoury, which was refurbished in partnership with the Mines Advisory Group, was previously housed in a cramped space that lacked gun racks and strict security measures. It will now store weapons in custom-made racks in locked compartments overseen by a full-time armoury attendant. Lt. Gen. Nyuon thanked UNMAS for supporting this project, noting that this initiative will boost accountability and public safety.

During a three-day visit to South Sudan that ended on 19 September, Ms. Marcaillou also toured the Rajaf Police Training Centre, where an UNMAS-led team of UNPOL-supported Irish military trainers is currently training South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) officers to safely dispose of conventional munitions. She stressed that UNMAS plays an important role in providing South Sudan with such critical capacity and knowledge.

"We will be able to take what we learn to our home states where we will remove unexploded ordnance," said Ater Gordon Machar, a trainee. "This will help keep people safe and lead to economic development."

Over the next 12 months an additional six batches of students will undergo the intensive eight-week course. It is expected that graduates of the course will form a sustainable and readily deployable mine action capacity within the SSNPS.

UNMAS is also working with the Danish Demining Group and the Norwegian People's Aid on further pilot projects on weapons and ammunition management in Central and Eastern Equatoria states.