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IOM Pilots Biometric Registration for Displaced People in South Sudan
GENEVA – IOM has completed a registration of a total of 28,968 internally displaced persons (IDPs) sheltering in two of South Sudan’s largest protection of civilian (PoC) sites in Juba – UN House and Tomping.
Biometric technology was incorporated into the process for the first time in South Sudan in a biometric pilot registration at the UN House site.
IOM’s Displacement Tracking and Monitoring (DTM) unit conducted the registration over one week, covering 3,587 households representing 14,448 individuals in UN House and 4,314 households representing 14,520 individuals in Tomping.
It gathered baseline information on the displaced population, including demographic statistics, household size, and tracking data linked to IDP intentions regarding future movement. A thumb print record of the head of each IDP household was also taken.
These records will serve as a vital record for aid agencies to identify vulnerable groups during the distribution of food, shelter and non-food relief items.
“IOM plans to use biometric technology, where possible, to digitally register IDPs facing long-term displacement and to improve the overall registration process. The methodology has been refined so that registration of any one site can be carried out within a day in order to enable more effective identification of the displaced population,” says Vlatko Avramovski, an IOM human mobility tracking expert.
“The new technology and revised methodology aims to provide more accurate demographic data that can be used by emergency service providers to plan efficient interventions, while at the same time facilitating discussions to identify potential displacement solutions for the ongoing crisis,” he adds.
Registration exercises were carried out in close cooperation with the IDP communities involved. IOM engaged with community leaders and employed site residents to assist in each stage of the process, including community mobilization, sensitization and data collection.
Thousands fled from neighbourhoods in Juba during the first week of the crisis in December 2013 to the safety of PoC sites in the UNMISS base and UN House. The vast majority of IDPs at the two sites are from the Nuer community, together with smaller numbers of foreign nationals, many of whom are migrant workers, transit nationals or undocumented refugees from countries in the region.
There are currently an estimated 1.3 million South Sudanese internally displaced or seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. In total, over 87,000 IDPs continue to seek protection in eight UN bases across South Sudan.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) have disclosed details of their recent closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu, explaining that the engagement focused on strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The clarification came amid speculation surrounding the meeting, which took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after leaders of several opposition parties attended an Iftar dinner hosted by the president earlier in the week.
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Speaking during a gathering hosted in Abuja by the SDP’s former presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo on Friday, the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, said the meeting with Tinubu followed an official invitation from the Presidency and lasted about an hour.
According to Gombe, the discussion centred on the need to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral laws and restore public confidence in the country’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 polls.
He explained that the meeting provided an opportunity for party leaders to remind the president of the importance of conducting transparent, free, and credible elections.
Gombe noted that democracy can only thrive when governments listen to the concerns of citizens and ensure electoral processes that guarantee fairness and accountability.
The SDP chairman also expressed concern over growing voter apathy, pointing to the low turnout recorded in the recent Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the Abuja Municipal Area Council election witnessed only about seven per cent voter turnout, which he described as a clear sign that many Nigerians are losing confidence in the electoral system.
Gombe urged the government and members of the National Assembly to take urgent steps to review electoral laws and rebuild public trust in Nigeria’s democracy.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of IPAC, Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, said political parties used the meeting to raise concerns about aspects of proposed electoral reforms, particularly issues related to indirect primaries and the mandatory electronic transmission of results.
Dantalle explained that the parties appealed to the president to use his influence to encourage legislative review where necessary, noting that reforms should strengthen, rather than complicate, the democratic process.
He expressed optimism that Tinubu would consider the concerns raised and support necessary amendments that would improve the electoral system.
The IPAC chairman also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strictly adhere to electoral guidelines as preparations for the next election cycle begin.
Earlier in his remarks, Adebayo cautioned political actors against turning the 2027 general elections into a do-or-die contest, stressing that the primary goal of democracy should be the progress and stability of Nigeria rather than personal political victories.
He urged leaders across political parties to encourage citizens to actively participate in the democratic process and ensure that elections are conducted peacefully and transparently.
President Bola Tinubu and Mr. Taiwo Oyedele during his nomination on Wednesday.
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