Crime Concerns in Torit
Residents of Torit, Eastern Equatoria, have endorsed a youth-run policing project after a day-long public dialogue moderated by the Support Peace Initiative and Development Organisation, SPIDO.
The scheme aims to stem a recent uptick in street robberies, rape cases and gang intimidation reported across Torit County.
Building Community Policing Framework
Under the plan, volunteer patrols of vetted youths will roam neighbourhoods and arterial roads, particularly at night, to deter offenders and report incidents directly to police.
Those caught robbing travellers face detention in Torit prison, while suspects in sexual violence will be handed to prosecutors without delay, organisers stressed.
Voices from Community and Parliament
Felix Ewot, SPIDO’s Peace Building Officer, said the dialogue exposed widespread frustration over ‘laws that stop at arrest’, urging stronger follow-through in courts.
Community chair Adelio Ojina Quinto echoed the concern, arguing that visible justice would restore public confidence and discourage repeat offences.
State lawmaker Emmanuel Justin pledged parliamentary backing, describing peace and coexistence among the state’s sixty-four tribes as a legislative priority.
Development Partners and Future Outlook
The initiative receives logistical and training support from KOICA through the United Nations Development Programme, aligning local security efforts with regional development goals.
Observers note that Torit’s model reflects a broader Horn-of-Africa trend where community policing bridges resource gaps in national security agencies.