In accordance with its mandate, the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) through its UN Police Component has been engaging the Community Protection Committees (CPCs) and the Joint Peace Committees (JPCs) in the maintenance of law and order in the Abyei Area through the provision of basic law and order training, advising and mentoring them on international policing standards and crime reduction sensitization campaigns.

The United Nations Security Council Resolution 2205 (2015) mandates UNISFA, “within its existing capabilities and resources and in close coordination with the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka communities, to strengthen the capacities of Community Protection Committees in order to assist with management of law and order processes in Abyei.”

Due to non-establishment of Formal Joint Institutions including the Abyei Police Service (APS) for management of law and order in the Abyei Area, execution of mandated duties such as to undertake capacity building programs has been a challenge for UNISFA.

To achieve UNISFA’s mandate and as the preparatory planning process for establishment of the Abyei Police Service, UNISFA led by UN Police conducted a field mapping exercise spanning a period of four months from November 2017 to February 2018 to identify suitable areas for the placement of Abyei Police Stations, Training and Prison Service Centers, Abyei Police Service General Hospital, and Vehicle Maintenance Warehouse.

The exercise also involved the assessment of population density, presence of social services such as markets and other vital installations, crime trend, availability of land and other social amenities in the region and also enabled UNISFA to reach-out to the local community to enhance future partnerships.

The exercise will serve as a building block for developing a road map towards the establishment of Abyei Police Service.