AWEIL – Aweil West County in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal State has deployed a joint security operation in response to a surge in criminal activities, including armed robberies and nighttime burglaries in Nyamlel County headquarters.
Chol Duang, the Information Director in the office of the county commissioner, told this publication on Wednesday that the operation is a mobile, multi-agency effort involving police, security personnel, firefighters, and other organised forces. The move comes amid growing reports of gangs targeting residents, often using knives and, in some cases, firearms.
Duang said the operation, led by Gen. William Garang Achiech, was launched earlier this week with a focus on areas experiencing heightened insecurity.
“What has happened recently is that a joint patrol unit conducted operations to crack down on criminal gangs,” he said. “The team is targeting individuals involved in violent robberies as well as those carrying out nighttime burglaries.”
He explained that the patrol unit does not remain stationed in one location but instead moves between areas based on intelligence and reports of criminal activity. This strategy, he noted, is intended to disrupt gang movements and prevent them from regrouping elsewhere.
Early results from the operation indicate some progress. Duang said security forces managed to recover dozens of stolen cattle during one of the patrols, although a suspect escaped arrest after being found in possession of the animals.
“The forces did a commendable job. One suspect fled the scene, but several stolen cattle were recovered,” he said, adding that the suspect likely escaped to avoid detention and prosecution.
In a separate development, Duang confirmed that the county commissioner has carried out an administrative reshuffle aimed at strengthening local governance. The changes included the dismissal of Executive Director Adim Bak Adim, with Wol Deng Deng appointed as his replacement.
Beyond security concerns, Duang also pointed to mounting humanitarian challenges in the county. He said food insecurity remains a major issue, compounded by an influx of returnees fleeing the conflict in neighbouring Sudan. Efforts to register displaced persons have faced delays, while international support remains limited as some aid organisations scale down their presence.
Authorities say the joint operation will continue as part of broader efforts to restore security and stability in Aweil West, even as the county grapples with both rising crime and increasing humanitarian pressures.
