Transaction Search Form: please type in any of the fields below.
Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 11:26 pm
Time: 11:26 pm
Results for policing (southern sudan)
1 results foundAuthor: Lokuji, Alfred Sebit Title: Police Reform in Southern Sudan Summary: This Working Paper shares the findings and considers the policy implications of the first evidence-based survey of community perceptions on policing in Southern Sudan. The survey data provide a snapshot of security issues across the still fragile social and political landscape of Southern Sudan. It is also a useful baseline for policy debates on police reform and for practical efforts to promote a more community-friendly approach to policing in Southern Sudan. The overall security situation has improved since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). However, significant security challenges still remain in some parts of the South due primarily to the proliferation of illegal arms; cattle rustling; the presence of Lord’s Resistance Army rebels; and persistent inter-tribal conflicts over land and other resources. Against this background and in an effort to reform its security architecture, the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) recently launched an ambitious program that aims to transform the SPLA guerrilla fighters into a professional army. As well, plans are underway to carry out a massive multi-year Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) program targeting some 90,000 SPLA combatants. However, the rule of law sector – and particularly the police, a pivotal element of security sector reform – has been largely neglected. Four years after its establishment, the Southern Sudan Police Service (SSPS) has yet to become the primary agency that ensures civilian security across Southern Sudan. In much of Southern Sudan, particularly in remote areas, police presence is very limited or non-existent. As a result, SPLA soldiers who are not trained in civilian law enforcement and often lack discipline have taken over the role of managing day-to-day internal security matters. At the same time, survey data shows that many people see the security forces themselves – including the police, the SPLA, and other armed groups – as major sources of threats to their security, and as perpetrators of crime and human rights abuses. The majority of communities across Southern Sudan continue to view the Boma Chiefs (traditional leaders) as the main providers of security-related services. The SSPS faces significant challenges in becoming an effective, accountable and professional organization. The widespread proliferation of illegal arms in much of the community, combined with the lack of training and equipment for the police, means that often the police are unable to effectively disarm civilians. In many instances, in fact, civilians are better armed than the police. As a result, the SPLA reverts to its war-time role and steps in to do what would normally be considered police work, often leading to clashes between the SPLA and the police. The legal frameworks and jurisdictions in Southern Sudan are unclear or absent, making it difficult for institutions such as the police to know how, where and when to do their jobs. Coordination among security institutions is weak, and the police in particular are often sidelined when it comes to contributing to key decisions. For instance, the current SPLA transformation process has led to a steady stream of SPLA members being fed into the police service without proper consultation or training. As a result, the limited police budget is increasingly consumed by salaries, leaving inadequate funding for sorely-needed training, equipment and infrastructure. While demobilized SPLA soldiers remain the main source of recruitment for the police service, political will for better recruitment procedures such as vetting remains very low. Moreover, 90% of the police force is completely illiterate, making basic police tasks challenging. Most of the police are also approaching retirement age and need to be replaced by young officers. Meanwhile, little effort has been made to include women in the police force, despite their contribution to the liberation war effort. Both multilateral and bilateral donors have been involved in improving the professional standards of the SPLA as well as the police and prison services, particularly through training initiatives targeting some senior personnel. However, donor investment in infrastructure and organizational development has been limited in this sector in general and for the police in particular. As well, there are critical gaps in linking bilateral support with wider SSR reform initiatives. The establishment of an effective and professional police force is a pre-condition for the maintenance of public order and protection of civilians. Also, there are high expectations for the SSPS in delivering security at the community level. With its under-staffed, underequipped and under-trained personnel, the SSPS leadership is finding such hopes difficult to fulfill. In this context, an effective, democratic security structure may be a long way off, but there is significant room for national and international actors to support and sustain the political commitment for locally-led SSPS development. Only after reform is embraced at the highest levels – in terms of legislation, organizational structure and infrastructure investment – can we reasonably expect the SSPS to respond effectively to the critical security threats being identified by Southern Sudanese communities. Details: Ottawa: North-South Institute, 2010. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy Document: Accessed August 11, 2011 at: http://www.nsi-ins.ca/english/pdf/SSR%20Sudan.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Sudan URL: http://www.nsi-ins.ca/english/pdf/SSR%20Sudan.pdf Shelf Number: 122359 Keywords: Police ReformPolicing (Southern Sudan) |