South Sudan Interior Minister Angelina Teny on Wednesday called on the South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) to be exemplary to the citizens by upholding law and order as required by the 2018 peace agreement.
Teny was speaking at Dr. John Garang Mausoleum on Wednesday during the pass-out parade of at least 1,000 police officers from Juba, Yei, and Terekeka, who concluded a three-month in-service training.
She said it is paramount that the police receive training as a means of transforming the security sector.
The interior minister stressed that the police must enforce the law without hesitation, pointing out that the 2018 peace agreement requires them to be an example to the citizens in maintaining law and order.
“By law, our job is to enforce the law,” Teny stressed. “We should not think in any way that there is an aspect of the law that you can ignore because we are actually the example.”
According to the minister, the purpose of offering police training is to equip them with enough knowledge on how to execute their duties.
“Training is very important in ensuring that policemen and women are fully equipped to be able to deliver in the duties given to them,” she asserted. “The police is the cornerstone of the security sector within the cities, rural areas, and within our country.”
Minister Teny further urged the police to acquaint themselves with the peace agreement, especially sections concerning their mandate.
For her part, Sarah Nene, the Deputy Governor of Central Equatoria State, called on the police officers to have good relations with the public. She also lauded the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for initiating the training, saying was the first of its kind.
“My thanks go to IGP Atem Marol Biar for this initiative. I think it is the first of its kind initiated. This refresher training is very important for the law enforcers,” she stated. “To you the police, you are going to maintain law and order and be friends with the citizens, be close to the citizens. There used to be no good relationship between the police and the citizens who used to fear you and there was no respect. You should fill that gap.”