Upper Nile caretaker governor returns to Malakal, puts elections and security at top of agenda

The Caretaker Governor of Upper Nile State, Lt. Gen. James Koang Chuol Ranley, has returned to the state capital, Malakal, outlining preparations for the upcoming elections and security stabilization as key priorities of his administration. Koang made the remarks on Saturday upon his arrival in Malakal, following his recent appointment and swearing-in as caretaker governor. He said his administration would work closely with the organized forces to strengthen security across the state’s 13 counties as South Sudan prepares for the elections. “I want to thank the President for appointing me as the Governor of Upper Nile for the third time. Our priorities will be to prepare the state for elections, and to ensure that security is stabilized,” Koang said. “I will work with the organized forces.

There are individuals causing instability, and I want to tell them: come and join the efforts for peace because South Sudan is preparing for elections,” he added. The governor also announced that about 1,000 personnel are currently undergoing police training in Renk, as the state targets a total of 2,000 personnel under the programme. According to Koang, the training is being conducted in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, with plans to establish a second training centre in Malakal. “We had a meeting yesterday with the Minister of Interior, his deputy and the IGP. There is a police training, and we chose Renk and another area. The target was little, but now it will be 2,000 personnel. We are almost reaching 1,000 now and we will divide the centre into two, whereby one will be in Malakal,” he said. Koang said the expanded police training programme is intended to strengthen the state’s security capacity as it moves toward the electoral period. He…