Joint police force established in Bentiu

By Sheila Ponnie and Agency
A joint police force has been deployed outside the United Nations Protection of Civilians site in Bentiu to improve security in the wake of violence against displaced people travelling outside the camp.
A new police post comprising 36 officers serving with both the South Sudan National Police Service and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition has been established at the outer perimeter fence of the camp, which provides sanctuary to approximately 111,000 displaced people.
The joint police effort includes daily foot patrols and an opportunity for displaced people and community leaders to directly refer criminal activity to the local police for investigation and prosecution.
They were deployed following a request from community leaders inside the camps and with logistical support from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan as well as humanitarian partners.
Speaking to journalists after a two-hour closed-door meeting with Angelina Teny, the Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs, Hiroko Hirahara, Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan Field Office in Unity State it was an out-of-box solution to converge forces from the two sides to work together to ensure the safety of civilians.
Hirahara explained that she wanted to share the status of Bentiu town and the challenges that the state is going through and also how best they can work together with the Defence Minister to achieve peace within the state.
“We came up with an idea of joint forces working together right in front of our gate, they are 36 altogether, 18 from IO and 18 Government,” she said.
She said the group was given water tanks, tents mattresses, and beds by the United Nations and other humanitarian partners to facilitate their operations.
An actual police post, Hirahara said, has been established and the forces were patrolling around. The field said the system was effective as all forces were working collaboratively. She added that commanders of the joint unit were working on monthly shifts.
She added that they implemented the joint protection unit more than one month ago. The strategy, which she said was playing out positively and instilling confidence in citizens on a possibility of lasting peace.
According to statistics by Relief Web, the number of people at Bentiu Protection of Civilians Site stands at 111,385 as of May 2020. Hirahara said with the huge population still remaining inside the POC, she has no choice but to utilize the military forces who are dedicated to provide support in the management of the POC site.
“What we are doing now together with the Government together with opposition is identifying the hotspot of violence and then we find those areas and we stay there for two or three weeks and we patrol because that is a lot more effective and then it provides confidence,” she said.
During the indoor meeting with the Minister of Defense, the field officer said cattle raiding and revenge killings remain major challenges bedevilling the state.
she highlighted that the protection of civilian site was created to protect people from the political conflict and violence.
She urged the unity government to invest more to support the police so that they are able to carry out their jobs and control criminality in the POC.
“Once crimes happen, it is not the job of the military to respond, it is the police to respond and in this state the issue is cattle raiding and revenge killing and those are the criminalities, not the ones that the military intervention is required, it is the police that needs to do the job so the police needs to be empowered.”
Civilians living in the camp have welcomed the new police presence and say it has already had a positive impact.
“With the deployment of the police force, our security has improved a great deal around the camp,” said Teresa Nyachanga Ruot, a resident of the protection site. “The crime rate has been reduced a lot, and there are no criminals attacking us now when we go outside of the base. We feel safe.”
The new police presence has been particularly reassuring to women living within the camp.
“We are excited about the national police being near us because they are doing their best to deal with criminals. We are already moving more freely outside the camp and I hope they will do more in the coming days,” said Nyakuoth Gai Chuol.
Camp leaders said it was pleasing to see the government and opposition working together to take responsibility for reducing crime.
“This is very encouraging. We applaud them for that,” said Kam John, the Deputy Chairperson of the Community High Committee in the Bentiu protection site.
“After we requested this deployment of security forces around the camp because of persistent crimes, it was the UNMISS field office which coordinated it and made it happen. We thank them as well.”
UNMISS said that the police efforts outside were having a positive flow-on effect inside the camp.
“We have noticed that criminal and gang activities have reduced, not only outside, but also inside the camp, so we are already seeing the impact of this deployment,” said UNMISS Protection of Civilians site coordinator, Hosiah Mukombero.