UN Police

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UN police in UNISFA is mandated by Security Council resolution 1990 (2011) to:

  • strengthen the capacity of the Abyei Police Service (APS) by providing support, including the training of personnel;
  • coordinate with the APS on matters of law and order;
  • where necessary and in cooperation with the APS, provide security for the oil infrastructure in the Abyei Area; and
  • take necessary actions to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence, without prejudice to the responsibility of the host Government.

In view of the absence of the Abyei Police Service, the Security Council in Security Council Resolution 2205 (2015) requested UNISFA within its existing capabilities and resources and in close coordination with the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka communities established Community Protection Committees (CPCs/JPCs) in place of the Abyei Police Service to:

  • observe, document and report on the movement of weapons into Abyei and the presence, destruction, and confiscation of weapons within Abyei;
  • strengthen the capacities of CPCs to assist with management of law and order processes in Abyei.

UNISFA UNPOL operational activities include the following:

  • mentoring/coaching CPCs to advise and mentor them on cardinal policing issues such as arrest, detention, investigation, human rights, gender mainstreaming, among others,
  • conducting community confidence building interactive patrols,
  • undertaking CPCs capacity building workshops,
  • engaging community leaders into intra and inter community peace dialogue,
  • conducting joint security meeting with the military and community leaders.

Leadership

UNISFA Police Commissioner, Violet Nasambu Lusala, is a Kenyan from National Police Service, Kenya. She holds a degree in Criminology and Security Studies with specialization in Security Management. Mrs Lusala, has a distinguished career in the Police service spanning nearly 30 years during which she rose through the ranks. She has been greatly privileged and honored based on her professionalism, competence, and attitude to head various strategic offices within the National Police Service – (Directorate of Criminal Investigation) - as Deputy Director quality assurance , head of Regional Criminal Investigation, head of County Criminal Investigation, head of Training department, head of Divisional Criminal Investigation, head of Serious Crime unit, head of Anti-Fraud Unit Telekom Kenya Limited Company, Chief Instructor Directorate of Criminal Investigations Academy and two years’ experience  with United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Composition of UN police component in UNISFA

On 27 June 2011, UNSCR 1990 (2011) established, for six months, the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and authorized a Police Component comprising a maximum of fifty [50] personnel. The UNPOL primary mandate was to help establish the Abyei Police Service (APS). In the absence of APS, UNSCR 2205 (2015) authorized UNISFA to enhance the capacities of the volunteered Community Protection Committees (CPCs/JPCs) to enhance Law and Order.

Currently, there are four Professional Staff of three females and one male, and forty-four (44) Individual Police Officers (IPOs) comprising of 28 men and 16 women. The officers are deployed from 17 countries which are from Egypt, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, India, Jordan, Kenya, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Russia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tajikistan, United Republic of Tanzania, and Zambia.

Strategically, the UNPOL Component is operating in eight (08) Team Sites evenly distributed within Abyei area with a minimum of four (04) UNPOL officers in each Teamsite. The current mandate under Security Council Resolution 2575 (2021) as adopted on 14 May 2021, authorizes the increase of UNISFA Police strength to 640 personnel including 148 Individual Police Officers and three Formed Police Units (FPUs) each with 164 members in expectancy.

 

Updates

UNISFA UNPol maps out police station and prison sites

UNISFA undertakes preliminary action for Police Reform and Restructuring in Abyei