By Alan Clement
The South Sudan National Police Service has reaffirmed its commitment to human rights and impartiality, following a courtesy visit from an ICRC delegation led by Mrs. Florence Gillette.
According to a statement from the Police service, Inspector General Gen. Abraham Manyuat Peter, held discussions focused on enhancing police capacity in human rights enforcement, border management, and first aid in the meeting held at his office.
The statement noted that Gen. Manyuat emphasized the importance of ethical conduct in law enforcement. “The police are committed to respecting international human rights laws and maintaining impartiality while executing our mandate,” the department quoted Gen. Manyuat as saying.
This renewed commitment comes at a time when South Sudan’s security forces have faced scrutiny over alleged misconduct. The 2023 U.S. State Department Human Rights Report cited credible accounts of arbitrary arrests, torture, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings involving various security actors, including police units.
These concerns have prompted calls for institutional reform and capacity-building across the justice sector.
In response, international partners such as the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and ICRC have launched training programs to improve professionalism and accountability.
Earlier this year, UNMISS conducted interactive human rights sessions for police volunteers in Eastern Equatoria, covering topics like humanitarian law, gender-responsive policing, and child protection.
The ICRC’s latest initiative builds on these efforts, aiming to equip officers with the tools to uphold rights and protect civilians, especially as South Sudan prepares for its first post-independence elections.
A key outcome was ICRC’s pledge to sponsor two South Sudanese police officers for specialized training in Italy on human rights in conflict zones.
Inspector General Gen. Abraham Manyuat Peter welcomed the collaboration, stating, “This training is vital for transforming our police force into a professional, rights-respecting institution capable of serving all communities impartially.”
The visit by ICRC marks a strengthening of ties between humanitarian actors and law enforcement, with both sides committed to fostering peace, accountability, and public trust in South Sudan’s justice system.