Yei Police Chief: “The Police Are Partners, Not Enemies.”

(YEI RIVER COUNTY) – The Police Inspector General of Yei River County, Major General Ali Abdallah Tif, has urged residents to report crimes without fear, saying the police are dedicated to protecting the community and not causing harm.

Speaking during a training organised by Vision for Humanity on social justice, healing and reconciliation, Major General Tif called for closer cooperation between citizens and law enforcement to promote peace and security in the county.

“The police are here to serve the people,” he said. “We encourage everyone to report crimes and help us maintain peace and order. The police are partners in protection, not enemies of the people.”

He praised humanitarian organisations for supporting survivors of conflict and leading peacebuilding efforts across Yei River County.

The training brought together over 150 participants including 50 women survivors of the 2016 conflict and focused on truth, reconciliation, healing, compensation and reparation. It aimed to help survivors recover emotionally, rebuild confidence and strengthen family and community relationships.

A participant, Charity Amude, shared her painful story of harassment, beatings and loss of property during the conflict.

“We went through terrible moments. Some of our loved ones were killed in front of us,” she said. “I urge our partners to continue offering support so we can heal from the pain we carry.”

She expressed gratitude to humanitarian groups “for standing firm with our lives,” but said that many survivors still face emotional challenges whenever they remember the past.

Summaya Wafik, the Project Manager for Vision for Humanity, said the project aims to rebuild trust, unity, and hope among people affected by war and insecurity.

“Healing is not only about physical recovery. It is about restoring dignity, rebuilding relationships and ensuring that every survivor’s voice is heard and respected,” she said.

Participants included youth, women, community elders, and religious leaders. They shared their experiences and discussed community-based approaches to reconciliation and trauma recovery.

Mary Kasa, a resident of Wuluturu area, appealed to women in Yei to continue standing for justice, noting that many suffered gender-based violence during the 2016 conflict.

“Women faced horrific experiences such as rape and loss of property,” she said. “We are thankful to humanitarian workers for their tireless support. Many of us are still healing, and we appreciate that at least 50 women have been registered as victims, though many more remain unrecorded.”

The training ended with a collective call for stronger cooperation between civil society, government, and humanitarian partners to promote lasting peace and justice in Yei River County.

The initiative is supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Yei Transitional Justice and Healing Training