South Sudan to bolster police numbers in Lakes and Warrap states
February 16, 2015 (RUMBEK) – South Sudan’s Lakes state has announced plans to train some 5,000 new police officers to quell ongoing insecurity in the capital, Rumbek.
Youth from the state’s eight counties will be recruited on a date as yet to be announced.
South Sudan’s interior minister Aleu Ayieny Aleu announced the plans in a heated debate for peace and reconciliation in Rumbek on Sunday.
His defended his decision, saying the new forces will help boost lift security and reinforce justice.
He said he also plans to train and recruit some 5000 youth from neighbouring Warrap state.
Rumbek as worse affect will be given high attention because we need quickly people to entrust the government.” Said Aleu while addressing people in Rumbek, the capital of Lakes state in peace and reconciliation.
Reconciliation efforts have been boycotted by senior politicians at both state and national level amid claims the current caretaker governor Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol’s term is illegal.
Dhuol has also been accused of inflaming tensions and failing to adequately address insecurity issues.
Aleu said the new recruits would be assigned to an administrative police taskforce that would work under the commissioner and governor directly.
His said new recruits would be paid once they completed their training after which they would be issued with arms.
The government has also provided funds for training and uniforms.
Aleu says the national government had agreed to provide prosecutors, judges and additional security in order to restore calm in Lakes state.
(ST)