Joint Police Plan Targets Criminal Movement Across Borders

(Juba) – South Sudan and Uganda have agreed to strengthen their joint efforts in tackling cross-border crime, international offenses, and human trafficking. The agreement follows a series of high-level discussions between the Inspector Generals of Police (IGPs) of both countries, aimed at improving cooperation between law enforcement agencies.

Major General Monday James Enok, spokesperson for the South Sudan National Police Service, announced the development after recent bilateral talks. He said there is an increasing pattern where criminals commit offenses in one country and then escape across the border to avoid arrest and prosecution.

“This makes coordination between the law enforcement agencies of the two countries crucial,” Maj. Gen. Enok stated, underlining the importance of working together to prevent offenders from exploiting the border to evade justice.

To address the issue, police chiefs from both countries have agreed to hold regular meetings to discuss cross-border law enforcement strategies. These will include the legal processes for handling suspects whose crimes span both jurisdictions. The collaboration is expected to make it easier to arrest, transfer, and prosecute individuals engaged in cross-border criminal activity.

The announcement was made shortly after South Sudan’s IGP returned from Rwanda, where he attended a police graduation ceremony at the Rwanda National Police College on June 20. Thirty-three senior officers graduated from the institution’s senior command course in peace studies and transformation. Two of the graduates were South Sudanese officers, who received a Master’s degree in Peace Studies and Complete Transformation, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Leadership and Management.

“The I.G.P. of South Sudan was invited by his counterpart, the I.G.P. of Rwanda, Commissioner General Felix, to attend the graduation,” Maj. Gen. Enok explained in a media briefing. He said the event was a demonstration of the region’s commitment to building professional law enforcement leadership across East Africa.

Gen. Enok emphasized South Sudan’s strong commitment to regional and international partnerships to address evolving security threats. He pointed out that both Ugandan and South Sudanese nationals have taken advantage of the porous border to escape legal consequences.

“People from Uganda commit crimes in South Sudan and run to Uganda, and also South Sudanese commit crimes in Uganda and run back here,” he noted, stressing that ongoing cooperation, communication, shared intelligence, and coordinated responses are key to handling such issues effectively, from petty crimes to more serious organized criminal networks.