Security boost as 150 police officers graduate to enforce law, order
The initiative, backed by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), marks a milestone in professionalising the police force amid increasing road accidents and public safety concerns.
By Emmanuel Mandella
In a significant move towards restoring public trust and order, the South Sudan National Police Service has graduated 150 officers after completing a refresher 40-day training course focused on traffic rules, crime investigation, and public order management.
The initiative, backed by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), marks a milestone in professionalising the police force amid increasing road accidents and public safety concerns.
Filled with renewed confidence, the officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Traffic, and Public Order units were officially passed out in a vibrant ceremony in Juba, where the country’s top security chiefs emphasized the urgency of their new mission.
Speaking during the event, General Abraham Manyuat Peter, Inspector General of Police, urged the officers to take their roles seriously and translate the lessons learned into tangible community impact.
“The message is clear. This training is not just for you, it is for the people you serve. We want the community to see a new kind of police professional, respectful, and accountable,” said General Manyuat.
The graduation comes at a time when South Sudanese communities are grappling with rising road accidents, often blamed on poor traffic regulation, lack of awareness, and weak enforcement. Many hope that the retrained officers will help address long-standing frustrations with delayed investigations, reckless driving, and public disorder.
UN Deputy Police Commissioner Dr. Kousab Shama reaffirmed the international body’s commitment to empowering law enforcement across South Sudan.
“Our support does not end here. We are working with state police units beyond Juba to ensure every corner of South Sudan feels the impact of better policing,” Dr. Shama emphasized.
The course covered core policing topics such as traffic control, road safety compliance, community policing, and modern crime scene handling techniques. These skills are expected to boost the capacity of the CID in tackling criminal cases with efficiency and restore discipline on South Sudan’s busy and often chaotic roads.
Despite the positive outlook, citizens say challenges still linger. Community members have often lamented the lack of police presence in remote areas, poor response times, and allegations of corruption. With this fresh batch of trained officers, expectations are high that these gaps will begin to narrow.
Lieutenant General Majak Arol Kachwal, Assistant Inspector General for Administration and Finance, reminded the graduates to uphold their duties with integrity and respect while on and off duty.
“The constitution calls you to serve with honor. Your professionalism will reflect how far we’ve come as a police institution,” he said.
As these 150 officers return to their units, the spotlight remains on whether this latest intervention will truly signal a shift in South Sudan’s law enforcement landscape or if more needs to be done to bridge the gap between police and the public.
