Juba,
Nov 26, 2016(Nyamilepedia) —– In what would have been a significant development towards implementation of the transitional security arrangements in South Sudan, the SPLM in Government through support of UNMISS and JMEC has began to train 850 polices for “Join Integrated Police Unit”
According to Deputy Minister of Interior, Brig Gen Riaw Gatlier Gai Choul, the government formally launched the registration and verification of Joint Integrated Police (JIP) personnel at “the Dr John Garang Unified Police training Centre” in Rajaf on 25 Nov 2016.
Despite lack of participations from SPLM/SPLA-IO and other armed groups, the UNMISS Police and UNDP are working closely with the Joint Monitoring Team to train and deploy the 850 polices in Juba to represent a Joint Integrated Police units as enshrined in the Compromised Peace Agreement.
[ad name=”Google Ads 03″]
Members of the JMT and JIP shared command were present on the occasion along with AIG training SSNPS, Lt Gen Joseph Lado and AIG Operations, Lt Gen Akot besides senior officers from the Centre.
Addressing the one thousand, one hundred and seven (1107) members of the JIP which includes 244 women, the Deputy Minister urged them to work together as a “professional police service” to help the community.
“This is the beginning of the security sector reform. We want young and medically fit men and women between the ages of 18 and 30 to be a part of JIP. They should not have any criminal record. We will verify this and those found eligible will be provided ID cards and trained and deployed in Juba”, he explained to the large gathering of the candidates assembled in Rajaf.
The registration and verification shall be carried out in the mean time for the JIP personnel for SPLM-IG as pre the standard operation procedure compiled by JMT and approved by the Hon Minister of Interior.
A budget for training, Operationalization and deployment has also been prepared along with an Action Plan, all approved by the Minister of Interior.
In accordance with the transitional security arrangements as specified in the Peace Agreement, JIP is the sole agency responsible for security of Juba, however, this process was delayed due to lack of cooperation between the two main warring parties
According to the agreement the JIP strength for Juba should have been fixed at 3000 polices with equal representation from both sides, however, after the forces and polices for SPLM/SPLA-IO withdrawn from Juba leaving Gen. Taban Deng Gai with no forces but only a handful of politicians, the government has decided to implement the peace agreement.
As per the Peace Agreement, JIP would also have been established in Bor, Malakal and Bentiu but the JMEC is not yet decided on these areas.
Speaking to Radio Miraya two days ago, the Chairman of JMEC, Festus Mogae, acknowledged lack of representation from SPLM/SPLA-IO and other factions but he said the implementation must continue with Taban Deng Gai and a few other former members of SPLM in Opposition and Former Political detainees.
[ad name=”match-content”]
