20 May 2015 - UNMISS Police Commissioner Fred Yiga today visited the Western Equatoria State capital Yambio, on his last leg of a trip to three states in South Sudan.

Mr. Yiga had on earlier visited the Warrap State capital Kuajok and Northern Bahr El-Ghazal State capital Aweil on 18 May and 19 May respectively.

Speaking to Radio Miraya journalists in Aweil, the UN Police chief said he was in the state to follow up on how UN Police Advisors were implementing the Mission’s protection of civilians mandate, and to ensure better cooperation with State Authorities.

“I deploy these officers, and it is my responsibility to come and see what they are doing,” he said. “The mandate has changed. Originally they came here to do capacity building to support the (South Sudan National) Police (Service). The mandate is now the protection of civilians, so we are checking on how effectively we are protecting civilians.”

Mr. Yiga added that in addition to raising the morale of UN Police officers, his visit would also serve to reassure the national and state government that the UN was committed to the South Sudanese people.

“We are together and (will) do whatever we can to make sure that social development and protection of civilians, (especially for) vulnerable groups (like) women and children (is achieved).”

Arriving in Yambio, Mr. Yiga said he would listen to UN Police officers to understand their relations with state authorities, the local police and communities and find out what challenges they are facing.

He noted that the new Mission’s new mandate had affected relations with the host authorities.

Western Equatoria Deputy Governor Sapana Abuy said the state was relatively calm, despite some insecurity caused by cattle keepers and rebels from the Lord Resistance Army at the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“I know that the UNMISS mandate has changed, but I would continue to urge you to consider the training of our police personnel because this is the state where rule of law is respected,” he said.