The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has commenced a disarmament operation targeting armed youth in Warrap State and Mayom County of Unity State.
This directive to peacefully or forcefully disarmed Warrap state and Mayom county came after series of armed conflict in these two places which made the President to declare a six-month state of emergency last week.
Addressing Journalists at Military headquarters in Bilpham, SSPDF Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang revealed that forces are already on ground to start the operation.
“Inline and immediate enforcement of presidential decree on declaration of Presidential decree on declaration of state of emergency for six months in Warrap state and Mayom County of Unity state, SSPDF command would like to announce the arrival of forces tasked with responsibility of conducting two types of disbarment” he said.
He expressed while forces are already in Warrap state and Mayom county to start disarmament, armed youth have been urged to surrender their weapons within one week.
“All armed youth in Warrap state and Mayom county of Unity State are given grace period of one week to voluntarily starting handing over their weapons to civilians’ authorities and SSPDF forces conducting disarmament” Lul said as he read out the statement.
He added that failure by communities or those armed to comply with the order will result in forceful disarmament, to be carried out in a coordinated manner immediately after the grace period ends.
“Upon elapsed expiry of one week grace period SSPDF forces will launch coordinated and simultaneously forceful disarmament exercise in Warrap state and Mayom county” he said.
The Ruai expressed that all armed youth are requested to comply with the order or face harsh respond from the forces.
On respond to the military order, Ter Manyang Executive Director for Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), oppose forceful disarmament.
“Disarmament, in itself, is not inherently harmful. In fact, when carried out by a legitimate, trusted government capable of ensuring the safety and dignity of all civilians, it can be a step toward stability” he said.
“However, this ideal breaks down when the state fails in its fundamental duty to protect its citizens. In such a vacuum, communities often arm themselves out of necessity — not aggression. They do so because they cannot rely on state institutions to guarantee their survival” he added.
He called on the government to understand and bring solution to what cause inter-communal conflict rather than forceful disarmament.
“Without addressing why, they felt compelled to bear arms in the first place is not just unjust, it is dangerous. It ignores the root causes of the insecurity and strips vulnerable populations of the only means they believe can keep them safe” he said
He called on the government to reverse their decision citing that it will bring more arms harms rather than solution.
