JUBA — South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) on Monday ordered civilians in Warrap State and Mayom County of Unity State to voluntarily surrender their illegal firearms within 7 days or face forceful disarmament.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday in Juba, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, SSPDF Spokesman, said the government is taking decisive measures to curb security threats in Warrap State and Mayom County amid an increase in levels of violence and cattle raids.
“What has been happening in Warrap, in greater Tonj, has become unbearable. We are determined to disarm them,” said Koang.
Gen. Koang said the army had sent troops for voluntary and forceful disarmament of armed youth in Warrap State and Mayom County of Unity State.
“If they accept our appeal for a voluntary disarmament, it will be in their best interest. If they refuse, we will collect the guns at any cost,” he said.
Koang said this act follows the immediate enforcement of a presidential decree declaring a six-month state of emergency in Warrap State and Mayom County of Unity State amid escalating insecurity and rising communal violence.
“SSPDF Command would like to announce the arrival of forces tasked with the responsibility of conducting two types of disarmament. Disarmament number one, voluntary disarmament.”
He warned of forceful disarmament against those who retain illegal weapons after the deadline.
“All armed youth in Warrap State and Mayom County of Unity State are given a grace period of one week to voluntarily start handing over the weapons to civil authority and SSPDF forces conducting the disarmament.”
August 2020 disarmament led to deadly fighting between armed civilians and members of the disarmament campaign, leaving over 127 people dead, including over 82 members of the organized forces.
The clash began after soldiers on the process beat at least one man to death, angering his colleagues, who later on started shooting at Romic Centre in Tonj East.
More than six years after a civil war broke out in the country, it had flooded communities with weapons, which they keep for protection or defense against cattle raids.
Cattle raids, revenge attacks, and inter-communal conflicts have led to over 200 dead since March, according to the United Nations Mission in Warrap State.
