Jonglei Deputy Governor Leads Meeting to Address Rising Insecurity in Bor

Jonglei State Deputy Governor Atong Kuol Manyang on Tuesday led a one-day workshop on community safety in Bor. The workshop addressed the growing security challenges in the state capital and its environs.

The workshop, supported by UNDP through the Community Violence Reduction Project Phase II, brought together key stakeholders including state security and justice representatives, bloc leaders, leaders and partners such as UN agencies and civil society organizations.

“I want us to find real solutions by joining our minds to ensure the security of our state and our capital Bor in particular,” Deputy Governor Atong said. “Our primary goal is to develop practical solutions to improve security in Bor and the rest of the state so that Jonglei is safe again as it was in the past.”

She stressed that the security of the state is currently at risk due to the proliferation of small arms among illegal immigrants, which has led to a rise in crime and local violence.

“We must come up with solutions that protect our city, our children and the foreigners living among us,” Atong added.

Peruth Karungi, Security Specialist for UNDP’s Access to Justice, Security and Human Rights Enhancement Programme in Jonglei State, highlighted plans to move from reactive to proactive policing. This includes improving police-community relations through the establishment of Police Community Relations Committees (PCRCs) and supporting youth patrol teams.

“UNDP is committed to good governance, and community security is a critical aspect of that,” she said. “By involving the state government in this consultative meeting, we aim to ensure that the voices of the community are heard and that recommendations for improving security are implemented.”

Meanwhile, Jonglei State Police Commissioner Maj. Gen. John Baak noted an increase in serious crimes such as gender-based violence, child abductions and robberies. He said the situation has been exacerbated by severe flooding, an influx of youth gangs and limited resources for the South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS).

“Security is everyone’s responsibility and all stakeholders must contribute to combating these criminal activities,” he stated. “I appreciate the Jonglei State Government and its partners for hosting this important consultative meeting.”

The workshop stressed the importance of establishing additional PCRCs in high crime areas, supporting youth patrols and conducting community dialogues and outreach for crime prevention. Currently, 32 PCRCs are operational in the city and are resolving disputes and crimes through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods and community engagement.