UNMISS Police Commissioner’s visit to Malakal and Bentiu

23 Dec 2015

UNMISS Police Commissioner’s visit to Malakal and Bentiu

A delegation led by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Police Commissioner Frederick Yiga visited Malakal and Bentiu on 16-17 December. During this two-day working visit, the Police Commissioner held separate meetings with the state coordinators, UNMISS section team leaders including the commanding officers of UNMISS forces, community leaders together with members of community watch groups, women representatives and finally with representatives of the UN Police (UNPOL) and corrections officers.

While touring the Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites to get acquainted with ground reality of safety and security situation, the Police Commissioner discussed the implementation of the compromised peace agreement urging community leaders, county representatives, women organizations and PoC communities to support the process. “None of us must stand in the way of this peace. Let us do the best to get out of the past and get into the future,” he noted while speaking to the Internally Displaced People (IDP) community leaders.

Yiga also inspected the state of accommodation and operational readiness of the Rwanda and Ghana Formed Police Units (FPU), including the progress of work at the Malakal and Bentiu holding facilities. He stated that under its new mandate, UNMISS Police has been given the critical role to support the implementation of a Joint Integrated Police (JIP) in Juba, Bentiu, Malakal and Bor as a crucial phase of the transitional security arrangements.

UNMISS Police Chief explained that the JIP is to be formed from the contribution of both warring parties and will include 3,000 in Juba and 800 forces each in Bentiu, Malakal and Bor. “The JIP is a very critical issue. We must provide training support and advisory assistance, including the development and implementation of a training curriculum and strategic planning,” Yiga said. He further urged the IDPs to gear up and actively support the JIP.

The Police Commissioner commended UNPOL, other UNMISS sections and forces for their commitment and excellent work in Bentiu PoC urging them to sustain a collaborative team spirit as the country is moving towards the critical phase of the implementation of the peace agreement.

On behalf of the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) and Head of UNMISS, Fred Yiga extended his best wishes for Christmas to UNMISS staff and PoC communities.