By Aweye Teddy Onam
The newly appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) has taken stringent stand on the notorious groups, best known as Niggers, promising to deal with them in a tough way.
Gen. Atem Marol Biar took office on Friday after swearing-in ceremony officiated by President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
Chief Justice, Chan Reec Madut administered the oath-taking function at State House J1.
In his key remarks after the swearing-in, Kiir directed General Marol to work towards the transformation of the national police service to ensure discipline and professionalism among the forces at all times.
“What we are doing is shaping the way for us to move in the direction of building a peaceful, united, and developed South Sudan,” the president expressed.
From State House J1, the new IGP was received at the Ministry of Interior premises to immediately assume his duties.
General Atem Marol expressed his gratitude to the president for appointing him to serve in that capacity.
He lauded the team at the Interior Ministry for the warm welcome and promised to work collectively with them to realize the expected reforms in the police sector.
Gen. Marol made a vow to the people of South Sudan as he assumed office yesterday.
“With the start of my work, I will join hands with the Minister of Interior and her deputy, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, and all the leadership of the police so that we transform the police,” the IGP promised.
“After we transform the police, this is where the police will deliver and maintain security in this country,” he added.
Highlighting his first 90 days in office, IGP Marol further talked tough on the issues of gang boys who have been terrorizing the citizens.
“Issues of niggers are going to be a priority. Starting tomorrow, I want to promise, and I want to ask whoever has a child who is outside and operating as a nigger, my administration will not allow that,” he warned.
The new IGP added that he will work with all police officers so that they cooperate together to execute their police mandate of keeping law and order and protecting the citizens.
Additionally, the newly appointed Presidential Advisor on Peace, Moses Gatkuoth Lony, was also sworn in at the same ceremony.
The Minister of Presidential Affairs, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, who witnessed the swearing-in, encouraged the new officials to promote unity among the people of South Sudan.
Interior Minister Angelina Teny expressed her ministry’s readiness to provide adequate security to the civil population. And the Deputy Interior Minister, David Marial Gumke, said the police have a prime responsibility to provide a conducive environment for the citizens during elections.
IGP change
On Tuesday, President Salva Kiir fired the former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Gen. Majak Akec Malok, in a Republican Decree read on state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Cooperation (SSBC) radio and TV.
In a separate decree, Kiir also promoted Lt Gen. Atem Marol Biar, former Director General of the Directorate of Civil Registry Nationality Passport and Immigration, to the rank of General and delegated him to the new role of Inspector General of Police.
No reasons were given for Gen. Akec’s firing. But he was axed after a wild rumor of an attempted coup plot shook Juba, which saw unusual security deployments while President Kiir was in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, for the Saudi-Africa summit.
Gen. Akec, the longest-serving police chief, was appointed in 2018, succeeding his predecessor, Gen. Saeed Chawul Lom.