South Sudan: UNDP supports training of over 5,000 police officers

By Julius N. Uma

December 03, 2010 (JUBA) – A total of 5,700 Southern Sudan Police Service (SSPS) officers have successfully completed a nearly one-year intensive training fully supported by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at Dr. John Garang Unified Training Academy in Rajaf, South Sudan.

Those trained were part of the 6,500 recruits brought from across all the 10 states of the semi-autonomous region.

The training academy was established after South Sudan’s interior minister, Gier Chuang Aluong and other senior management at SSPS identified the site in January, 2010.

The academy, which is located about 25 miles south-east of Juba, South Sudan’s capital, consists of well established tent accommodations, a new medical clinic, six temporary classrooms and eight permanent classrooms on the verge of completion.

Abednego Akol Ayueng, the academy Commander acknowledged the tremendous role UNDP’s rule of law program has played within SSPS. He said that law enforcement officers are expected to play leading roles in maintain law and order in the South’s self determination referendum in January.

“As for now, UNDP and other development partners have played their roles. The officers have been trained and are fully equipped ready for any assignment. The decision of when and where these officers will be deployed is now up to the Government of Southern Sudan,” Commander Ayueng said.

Another batch of 365 officers, selected from 5,700 trainees are currently completing a one-month training on Criminal Investigation Department (CID) proceeding, courtesy of a memorandum of understanding signed between the government of Uganda and Southern Sudan.

A 30-man delegation of senior Police officers from Uganda are currently training these officers on issues like, criminal law and procedures, law of evidence, basis of investigations on offenses like theft, sexual violence, homicide, drug tracking, among others.

Commissioner, Moses Binoga, the head of the Ugandan delegation said his team was impressed with the high levels at which the selected officers easily comprehend the basic modules being taught, while thanking UNDP and the South Sudan government for such an initiative.

According to Commissioner Binoga, the first phase of the training, now in its third week involves series of periodical evaluations. But he said that lack of time for practical experiments and lack of modern equipments as some of the major bottle necks to the programme.

Lise Grande, the UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan stressed the importance of addressing what she described as the 19-core functions of government, expected to be fully implemented before the end of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) era.

These core functions, she said, mainly center on issues to do with good governance, focus on the rule of law, strengthening the judiciary structures, effective service delivery, all earmarked to enhance capacity building in the semi-autonomous region.

Jane Amito, 26, one of the team leaders in the one-month training programme said, despite a few notable challenges, the initiative has had tremendous impact on the current status of the police services in South Sudan.

(ST)