CEPO urges new police chief to curtail communal violence, crimes

JUBA – South Sudan’s civil society watchdog Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) on Tuesday called on the newly-appointed Inspector-General of Police Lt. Gen. Atem Marol Biar to work towards ending communal violence and escalating crimes in the country.

This comes after President Salva Kiir Mayardit dismissed in a surprise move Inspector-General of Police Majak Akec Balok, replacing him with Biar, who was the director-general of the directorate of civil registry, nationality, passport, and immigration.

In a statement extended to Sudans Post, CEPO’s Executive Director Edmund Yakani urged the new police chief to work towards normalizing the security in the world’s youngest country and to also bring a conducive environment for the would-be elections.

“The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) is urging the newly appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) to play a proactive role in combating criminals across the country,” Yakani said in the statement.

“The target areas should be the main highways, and residential areas and also works towards the reduction of the deadly communal violence plaguing the country,” the statement added.

He further urged the new police chief to “take seriously the issues of the looming elections security, non-violence and safety.”

CEPO’s call comes as South Sudan is grappling with a surge in crime, including communal violence, cattle raiding, and armed robberies. The country is also preparing for elections in 2024, and there are concerns that the violence could undermine the electoral process.

Biar has a long and distinguished career in the South Sudanese police force.