18 August 2010 - Senior prison officers from the 10 Southern Sudanese states are currently taking part in a six-week Critical Incident Management training course at Lologo Prisons Training Centre in Juba.

"We are providing this training because Southern Sudan did not have prison officers trained in critical incident management, which is a crucial part of dealing with inmate riots," said UNMIS training officer Peter Faulhaber.

The training, which began at the UNMIS Juba compound on 9 August and moved to Lologo a week later for practical exercises, was organized by the mission in partnership with the Southern Sudan Prisons Services (SSPS).

The course is expected to equip the 22 prison officers attending with skills, including crowd control, in dealing with crises.

"This training will not only help us to deal with riots in the prisons but we will be able to support our police colleagues in controlling any kind of riot even outside the prisons," said Colonel Peter Apiok.

Most of the prison officers currently serving in the prison services were former Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) personnel who became prison officers after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed in 2005. Many had no training or experience in prison law or riot control.

"I had no idea about prison services when I was in the SPLA," said Prison Officer and First Lieutenant James Mawiher. "I knew my military duties. but with this training I am going to understand my duties as a prison officer and how to handle riots when they occur."

UNMIS and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) have been training Southern Sudan Prisons Service and Southern Sudan Police Service staff in community policing, traffic control, data management, crime investigation and other skills.