Mundri West County, Western Equatoria State, has received a new prison facility from United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

The construction of the Mundri Prison building was funded by UNMISS and implemented by the Rural Development Action Aid (RDAA) as the contractor through Quick Impact.  

On Sunday, the facility was handed over to the authorities in Mundri West County to provide a better place for the inmates.

Speaking during the handover ceremony on Sunday, the UNMISS Human Rights Division representative in WES Tahiru Ibrahim stressed that the facility would provide better accommodation for the inmates.

Mr Ibrahim said it was important for the authorities in the area to use the new facility meaningfully and correctly saying inmates also deserve a clean environment.

“We are expecting the authorities here to use this building correctly because it is what will allow the rehabilitation and reintegration of those who offended the law back to the society so that they become a useful and functional member of the society,” Ibrahim revealed. 

“Prisoners are just like other people in the society who have rights in every aspect of life, therefore, they deserve every protection including a clean environment,” he added.

He reaffirmed the UNMISS commitment to continue supporting the country as it pushes for lasting peace and stability.

In the same event, the WES Director of South Sudan Prison Service (SSPS) Maj. Gen. James Dut Galual applauded UNMISS’ efforts for the support to build the prison facility in the area.

According to Director Galual, the new building would encourage family’s inmates to have confidence about the wellbeing of the daughters and sons while in prison.

“UNMISS has handed over the facility to us, they are as good as you see. It is a facility where the family of the inmates can feel that their relatives are kept in good condition more than before,” he stressed.

However, he highlighted the lack of some properties for the facility which he mentioned that there were no beds for the inmates.

Elias Richard the State Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement thanked the UNMISS for doing such a good job in the state.

He remarked that such work was supposed to be done by the government, but it could not be done due to many problems in the country.

However, he said his government is also doing everything possible to make sure development and services delivery reach the people in the country.

“What they are doing is supposed to be done by the WES government; it is our duty as the Government but we thank them for what they are doing, the recognition is not for nothing but the partnership with government,” he said.

Mr Richard urges UNMISS to continue with the partnership to put things in the right direction in the country.