UNMISS Police Commissioner visits Bentiu, stressing peace role of JIP

17 Dec 2015

UNMISS Police Commissioner visits Bentiu, stressing peace role of JIP

UNMISS’ top police official said today in Bentiu, Unity State, that the Joint Integrated Police (JIP) programme was critical for UN Police in supporting implementation of  South Sudan’s peace agreement.

As a result of the agreement’s permanent ceasefire and transitional security arrangements, Police Commissioner Fred Yiga said UN police would be supporting the JIP so it could take charge of security management.

“The JIP is going to be a very, very critical issue,” Mr. Yiga said. “We must participate in training, guiding and strategic thinking of the JIP. We must be seen as part of the foundation struggle to put up the JIP.”

Made up of police from both parties to the country’s conflict, the JIP includes 3,000 forces in Juba and 800 each in Bentiu, Malakal and Bor.

The Commissioner visited the Formed Police Unit (FPU) and Civilian Police in Bentiu, which have been increased due to a doubling of the population seeking protection in the UN camp. Currently, 170 FPU and 80 civilian police are deployed in Bentiu.

He also visited the protection of civilians site (PoC) to meet with community leaders. “None of us must stand in the way of this peace,” he told them. “Let us do the best to get out of the past and get into the future. Start the message of nation building.”

Mr. Yiga commended UN Police for their work in the POC site and the good relationship it had with community leaders in addressing issues of safety for displaced people. 

The commissioner also met with UNMISS’s  Bentiu leadership and women's groups.