Police in Upper Nile State have announced plans to deploy units to Ulang and Nasir counties following the recapture of the areas by government forces earlier this month.
The move comes nearly two weeks after the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) regained control of the strategic town of Nasir from the White Army, a Nuer civilian militia. The group had seized Nasir on 4 March. The town lies 185km (115 miles) from Malakal, the state capital.
Upper Nile State’s police commissioner, Maj. Gen. Joseph Mayen Akon, told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that police units would be stationed in Doma, Ulang, and Nasir to restore security and order.
“The deployment aims to establish law and order after armed youth, known as the White Army, controlled these areas,” he said. “The police presence will be adjusted based on each area’s needs and population density.”
Akon described the security situation in Ulang and Nasir before their recapture as “chaotic”, adding that government control was now being restored.
“The White Army was causing chaos, and there was no government,” he said. “Now that the government has returned to Ulang and Nasir, we want to enforce law and order. We want citizens to return, and when they do, there will be a need for prison services, police, and fire brigades. We need police to maintain law and order.”
When asked about the number of police forces to be deployed, Akon said it would depend on local conditions.
“The population in Doma and Ulang is currently small, so the number of police will depend on need. It may increase as the situation improves and more citizens return,” he explained.
The police commissioner said security across the state had stabilized since government troops took control of Ulang and Nasir, noting that people were returning to Malakal from Renk and other areas.
However, he acknowledged that civilians in Nasir and Ulang had been slow to return, citing lingering fears.
“The government cannot force citizens to come back, but it will ensure security and stability so they can return gradually,” he said. “The situation is improving, and I have heard NGOs are planning to return to Nasir and Ulang. I am sure this will encourage people to come back.”