South Sudan’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Lt. General Abraham Manyuat, has issued a stern warning to police personnel against involvement in politics, stressing the importance of neutrality in law enforcement.
Speaking during the inauguration of newly rehabilitated Border Police offices, the IGP reminded officers that any deviation from their nonpartisan mandate will not be tolerated.
“Any officer found involved in political activities will face punitive measures, including suspension from promotion and outright dismissal from service,” General Manyuat declared.
The police chief emphasized that the law is clear: members of the South Sudan National Police Service are barred from affiliating with or supporting any political party. He noted that despite this clarity, some officers continue to flout these regulations.
“We will dismiss and suspend the promotion of any police officer involved in politics,” he warned, adding that such conduct undermines the credibility and professionalism of the force.
The statement echoes similar warnings issued by other security institutions in recent years. In 2022, President Salva Kiir issued a Republican Order banning all active personnel in the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and other organized forces from political involvement, including leadership roles in community-based, youth, or women’s organizations, and from propagating hate speech online.
That presidential decree—based on Article 101(c) of the Transitional Constitution—was aimed at reinforcing discipline within the armed and organized forces and insulating them from political interference.
In line with that directive, General Manyuat called on police officials to uphold the law and also show respect to those who do, reinforcing the need for discipline and neutrality within the ranks.
Civil society observers have repeatedly emphasized that maintaining the neutrality of security forces is vital for a stable democratic transition. Analysts say politicization of organized forces remains one of the biggest threats to peace and democratic governance in post-conflict South Sudan.
