Sudan’s Northern Bahr El-Ghazal state urges police preparation for elections
January 18, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – Authorities from Southern Sudan state of Northern Bahr El-Ghazal have urged police preparation for the upcoming election and to be vigilant against crime.
In an interview with Police commissioner, Major General Akot Deng Akot, said police must be vigilant and weed out crime in the state ahead of the April general election so that fears about insecurity are avoided.
The official said that assurance of the security situation encourages foreign investment in the area adding that police have an important role to play in crime prevention and control and that intervention must be worked out to enhance security.
He said positive developments have been lined up for police officers and they will continue to come, adding that “there is nothing that will please the government and the Aweil citizenry than to see a change in police officers’ attitudes”.
Major General Akot said that police must continue working tirelessly in their efforts to maintain peace and security to enable Aweil remain an ideal area for development and “a haven of peace in South Sudan and Sudan as a whole”.
He said that as the nation starts preparing for next year’s presidential and parliamentary elections, police officers are expected to perform up to the public’s expectations, adding that police should ensure peace and political stability.
“As you rejoice and celebrate this brand new year, bear in mind what is expected of us in 2010 and keep in mind also the bad things that have been said about us” he said.
“There will be a dramatic increase in political activities and one thing required of us is to maintain peace and security in our respected places of assignments,” Akot cautioned.
However, the general was quick to praise the police service for its transformation over the years.
“The Northern Bahr el Ghazal Police Service has come a long way and the transformation is there for everybody to see. The police service has been swayed from an extremely bully organization to a hospitable one, so it is for this reason that we must work hard to protect our citizens from perpetrators of crime, he said.
He commended police for the proactive step it took in maintaining peace and political stability in the state in 2009 and wish them keep up for years ahead.
(ST)