UNMISS hands over newly constructed police station to community in Riang-Alek

Officer-in-Charge, UNMISS Kuajok Field Office, Abimbola Aina cuts inaugural ribbon with Riang-Alek Police Inspector, Simon Kuot and Bouyar Commissioner James Athian Agok.(Photo: Manyang Mayom/UNMISS)

25 Jul 2018

UNMISS hands over newly constructed police station to community in Riang-Alek

Manyang Mayom

The security situation in Gogrial area’s Riang-Alek county has received a major boost with the opening of a new community police station, constructed with funding from the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

“It is the first time that we have something like this. The community is appreciative, as this will help them a lot,” said Bouyar County Commissioner, James Athian Agok, addressing a large gathering at the official handover ceremony.

The station is the only police post in the county, built in the aftermath of inter-communal clashes between communities of Wau, Tonj and Gogrial states. 

“This police station will help this community to curb or prevent criminal acts within the community,” said Commissioner Athian Agok about the police post whose construction, by a local non-governmental organization, The Organization for Children’s Harmony (TOCH), cost some forty-six thousand US dollars ($46,000).

The Acting UNMISS Head of Field Office in Kuajok, Abimbola Aina, said the project was in response to an appeal by the women in the county for more protection. 

“The women said, ‘we need protection, we need security, we need peace and because of that we would like to have a police station’. I want to say salutation to the women for bringing this project to the fore! UNMISS is your partner for peace. We are not the ones that will bring that peace – you as a community are the ones that will bring peace. What we do is we support you to be able to ensure that peace takes hold in the community. I would like to say thank you to TOCH for the role that they played.”

Ms. Abimbola urged the local government, the police and community to optimally utilize the facility, as she recognised the diversity represented by people from different ethnic groups.

“Having people from Apuk, Abiem, Kuac and Wau gathered in one place celebrating the handover of a police post is a clear indication that you have accepted peace and you must remain together for peace,” she said.

The construction of the station started in March 2018 and was completed after just over three months, in June 2018.

The objectives of the project were to strengthen rule of law, protection of civilians, especially women and children, and support voluntary return of displaced people by building confidence about security in the area.

The station would also improve access to police services and build confidence and peaceful co-existence among Kuac, Apuk, Abiem and Wau communities who have lived together in Riang-Alek for years.

“UNMISS would like to see the facility functioning. It is time to live in peace and resolve differences through dialogue,” stressed Ms. Abimbola.

Riang-Alek Police Inspector, Maj. Simon Kuot, expressed his gratitude and optimism about the station.

“The area is blessed to have this strong structure,” he said, while urging all paramount and executive chiefs to liaise with the police and have all suspects processed through lawful channels. “No one should be arrested without proper documentations,” he said, adding, “All suspects must be charged for any suspected wrongdoing by lawful institutions.”