Improving South Sudan’s police is top priority for interior minister

By Ngor Arol Garang

September 15, 2011 (JUBA) – Newly independent South Sudan intends to transform all the law enforcement agencies to become more humane and professional in discharging their national duties to protect and guard lives and properties of the people of newly established state, the minister of interior said Thursday.

Alison Manani Magaya, since he was appointed on August 26 has tried to familiarise key government officials with his plans for the security services. South Sudan’s police will be restructured to strengthen the system he said.

Speaking at the same briefing, Pagan Amum Secretary General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), the new country’s ruling party outlined his vision to build a free, peaceful and prosperous Republic of South Sudan and that it is in the interest of the party to consolidate the peace which the new nation enjoys.

South Sudan split peacefully from North Sudan in July but is still riven with internal conflicts.

Amum said the SPLM’s puts emphasis on the diversification of the country‘s economic system. Only two percent of South Sudan’s national budget is not provided by oil revenues.

Anne Ito, the SPLM’s deputy secretary general, who like Amum stepped down from a minsterial post in August, told journalists that the SPLM was voted into power in last year’s elections to pursue development projects but warned that they could only be implemented if there adequate security.

“The SPLM was elected into power to pursue industrialization programmes in mining, energy, agriculture, science and technology, fisheries and livestock, forestry and eco-tourism as some of the mechanisms for enhancing the country’s export base but which cannot be done when there is insecurity”, explained Ito.

She said that her government works hard to implement a strategic programme for private sector development in order to promote the middle class, which, she said, is vital for a stable and progressive society and for creation of jobs.

“SPLM government will identify and mobilise strategic investment partners and private capital markets as investment drivers in various priority sectors including infrastructure development, finance and insurance, mining, skills development and ICT.

“We’ll also pursue a vibrant programme in human capital development in order to address the skills’ capacity gap for industrial growth,” she said.

She said her party will also fight the growing urban poverty by ensuring provision of basic needs and services such as portable water, electricity, sanitation and decent housing.

“The government work to provide safety net and social support programmes to the vulnerable groups that have little or no productive capacity. We’ll also strengthen social security sector by bringing more innovation to food security interventions, nutrition and HIV and Aids prevention, mitigation and treatment,” she said.

(ST)