The Inspector General of the South Sudan Police Service, accompanied by the heads of Traffic Police, Professional Standards, and the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), concluded a tour of Bahr el Ghazal with a strong message, urging traffic police officers to cease the collection of money from truck drivers along the country’s highways.
Atem Marol Biar, the South Sudan Police Inspector General (IGP), delivered this message during the launch of a 1,000-police refreshment training in Rumbek on Tuesday.
In addressing the issue, IGP Atem emphasized the need for traffic police officers and soldiers overseeing truck and vehicle movements in Bahr el Ghazal and across the country to refrain from collecting money from truck drivers alongside the main roads.
He stated, “You don’t need to stop every moving vehicle on the highway. Not every vehicle has a problem. I have General Louis from traffic on this tour. His role is to determine whether traffic police are extorting money from trucks or not. You can’t demand money without knowing whose money it is. This issue must stop. Our journey of touring states aims to instill discipline among all traffic police officers. There are instances where traffic police can stop a vehicle, but not every vehicle should be stopped.”
He illustrated his point by saying, “For example, three vehicles are moving, and you stop them all. Are those vehicles all experiencing problems?”
Atem clarified that according to global traffic police law, a vehicle can be stopped if the driver lacks brakes, lights, logbooks, or number plates, or if it has only one number plate. He stressed that not every vehicle on the road can be stopped arbitrarily.
Addressing reports from Police Commissioner James Madut Ngor regarding offices with structural issues requiring renovations, Atem acknowledged the veracity of the situation. He underscored the urgent need for police land from Juba to the states, expressing concern over many lands being sold.
Atem pledged to establish a committee to tour all ten states and three administrative areas, tasked with identifying those responsible for acquiring police land. He assured that lands sold belonged to the prison service, while police territories were either sold or taken.
Atem urged the appropriate authorities to investigate those accountable for the sale of police lands. Additionally, he explained plans for a diverse deployment, involving individuals from different ethnic groups and counties following the police refresher training. He stated, “There will be a mix of officers deployed from various backgrounds to promote diversity and inclusivity within the police force.”
He explained, “Historically, if you visit Rumbek, you’ll notice that the police officers predominantly come from Rumbek, similarly, in Cueibet County, they are primarily Cueibet locals, and the pattern continues in Tonj. Moving forward, this practice will be discontinued, and there will be a diverse mix of officers deployed from various backgrounds.”
He revealed that he witnessed young police officers in both Rumbek and in Kuajok and hoped that the police refresher training will be effectively implemented. He expressed concern about a significant number of individuals residing in residential areas who seem to be idle, yet receive promotions. Meanwhile, those actively working are not being rewarded. Such situations should not be tolerated in our community.
“I am officially announcing the commencement of training for 1,000 individuals in each of the four states of Bahr el Ghazal starting tomorrow. This marks the initiation of a series of refresher training sessions. I want to reiterate, especially for those who may not have heard this message clearly, that my visit to the Bahr el Ghazal States was to assess the status and conditions of our forces. Following this assessment, it is imperative that we proceed with your training,” he said.
He emphasized that individuals returning for training should be identified by each state, with a specific focus on selecting 1,000 trainees aged 50 years and below. These trainees must undergo a thorough medical checkup to ensure their fitness for training.
“In the training, it’s crucial to account for factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or any existing health conditions among participants. This precautionary measure is to avoid any incidents during the training sessions,” he further stated.
He clarified that the refresher trainings are exclusively for the four states within the Bahr el Ghazal region and are scheduled to conclude by the end of March. Emphasizing that these sessions are refreshers, he mentioned that individuals unfamiliar with the role of a soldier will receive training to acquaint them with the responsibilities.
“The training aims to educate police soldiers on the rules and regulations governing their roles. It is crucial to prepare the police force to seamlessly collaborate with the military when needed. Whether the government calls upon the police for assistance or vice versa, the police must be on par with the military,” he explained. “While some states grapple with conflicts, your state, under General Rin Tueny Mabor, has achieved peace. It is imperative for us to sustain this peace, and it can only be upheld by individuals well-versed in the rule of law and adequately trained.”
He emphasized, “I cannot serve as the Inspector General of Police without personally understanding the conditions in Aweil, Lakes, and working on behalf of the police. It’s out of the question; I must practically visit these places, including other areas in Equatoria, Upper Nile, and the three administrative zones.”
Highlighting the variation in issues from state to state and administrative area to administrative area, he expressed the need to go beyond office work and address challenges based on firsthand knowledge. “I won’t sit in the office and request resources or solutions without knowing the ground reality. For instance, I won’t claim there are no guns if I’m not familiar with the actual situation of police personnel in Lakes State, or assert there are police uniforms without understanding the specifics of what our officers wear. I will request only what I am aware of,” said IGP Atem.
Addressing uniform concerns, IGP Atem insisted that police uniforms, including caps and boots, should be uniform across the force and not a mix. He argued against a varied appearance that might resemble militias, stating that such inconsistency hampers discipline within the police force. Additionally, he issued a stern warning against traffic police soliciting money from moving vehicles on South Sudan’s roads.
Meanwhile, the Police Commissioner of Lakes State, James Madut Ngor, raised two points, stating, “Firstly, dear IGP, you’ve seen my office. This renovation dates back to 2010, and if my office looks like this, it implies that other offices face similar issues. It’s essential to witness these conditions firsthand. Secondly, you’ve observed our police personnel carrying sticks. The 453 guns previously stored here have been given to soldiers in Malek Payam during the tenure of former IGP Makur Marol.”
He explained that these police soldiers, upon their graduation, were initially deployed within communities during periods of internal conflict.
“When I assumed my role, I began relocating them from their respective counties to the State Police headquarters. Subsequently, I transported them to Maper for deployment, equipping them with the limited number of guns available. Consequently, you may observe many of my soldiers carrying sticks due to the scarcity of firearms,” explained Madut.
He continued, “I’ve compiled a breakdown of these personnel, and I’ve submitted it to General Luis. This breakdown is categorized according to the counties, ensuring a total of 1,000 police personnel ready for refreshment training. I conducted this breakdown prior to the parade to preemptively address any concerns of inequality among the counties.”