East African Police Chiefs Vow To Support South Sudan

This article was last updated on May 26, 2022

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The delegation, composed of four Inspectors General of Police (IGPs) led by Kale Kayihura of Uganda, said its mission is to hear from the country’s authority if there is need for support from the EAPCO.

“The purpose of our coming here is to express on behalf of our colleagues [EAPCO] solidarity with our colleague the IGP of South Sudan Police service,” Kale said.

“We come to really deliver message that you [South Sudanese] are not alone, that the region [members of EAPCO] is with you and our colleague. In the area of policing, we are ready to provide [support] within of course the limitation of our capability.”

He added: “Obviously in the process we would like to see if there are areas we can help in as a region because if our colleague is facing challenges, we cannot just sit back as though we are not concerned and it does not affect us.”

The Uganda Police has been working hand in hand with South Sudanese police on patrolling the Juba-Kampala highway and they also periodically meet to discuss issues affecting them and forge ways forward.

EAPCO brings together police chiefs from Burundi, Rwanda, Eritrea Seychelles, Comoros, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia.

The IGPs of Kenya, David Kimayo, Rwanda Emmanuel Gasana and the deputy commissioner of Police of Somalia Gen. Bashir accompanied Kayihura to Juba.

The Police Chiefs were set to have a meeting the South Sudanese IGP where they may be able to ascertain what kind of assistance is needed in the area of policing and maintenance of law and order.

South Sudan on December 15, 2013 experienced one of its worst political crises since gained independence over two years ago.

Sporadic gunshots broke out in several military barracks in Juba and later spread to several parts of the country forcing thousands of people to flee the country to neighboring countries.

The United Nations on Tuesday said close to 900,000 people have been displaced following the crisis with close to 150,000 others displaced to neighboring countries.