SSPDF Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai warned that non-compliant individuals will face confiscation of their weapons in addition to administrative measures depending on the nature of offence committed.

By James Chatim

South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) has banned unauthorized movement of soldiers with individual or unit firearms except on mission or duty on presentation of authenticated departure order.

SSPDF Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, speaking on behalf of the army chief, warned that non-compliant individuals will face confiscation of their weapons in addition to administrative measures depending on the nature of the offence committed.

In a press statement released yesterday, Lul advised armed civilians especially within areas controlled by SSPDF to immediately commence registration of individual or clan-owned weapons.

Traditional chiefs, Buma, Payam and County authorities were directed to conduct and oversee the registration process, and once the registration is complete, owners of the weapons would return to their respective places of origin with their guns, the statement added.

“While registration exercise is in progress, armed civilians are only allowed to move with individual or group firearms in area under jurisdiction. Individual gun owners are given one month within which to register their guns. After registration, gun owners are directed to voluntarily handover their guns to concerned authorities at previous designated registration centers. Failure to voluntarily handover registered guns would result in the conduct of forceful disarmament,” the SSPDF Spokesperson said, adding that:

“During and after a comprehensive disarmament is conducted, SSPDF will provide maximum protection and security to the disarmed population. The SSPDF Chief of Defence Forces would like to renew calls for the ranks and file of SPLA-IO soldiers, specifically those who had gone into hiding and ones scattered all over to report to the nearest government/SSPDF outposts/barracks in order to resume their normal duties.,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the national army directed SPLA-IO forces around Juba to report to Digali Training Center for further directives. “SSPDF forces are hereby directed to cease all forms of hostilities towards friendly SPLA-IO forces at designated cantonment areas and individuals going about their normal businesses/activities,” Lul explained.

Proliferation of weapons and govt. action

Notably, following South Sudan historic independence in 2011, the country slipped into a protracted civil war in 2013, which grossly affected the nascent security institutions. Consequently, there was proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALWs), which further deepened insecurity.

In a vicious circle, sources say, the proliferation, enabled by the State’s cross-sector weaknesses, undermined the internal order of the country. Meanwhile, the chaos brought about by the civil war gave way to the spread of SALWs which, in turn, laid the groundwork for the emergence of non-state armed groups, the strengthening of the ones that already existed in the territory, that later exacerbated violence.

“While SALWs do serve a multitude of legitimate uses, they also constitute instruments that intensify internal and intergroup violence. In the case of South Sudan, SALWs appear to have had disruptive effects on the stability of the youngest African nation,” revealed a source.

To tame the insecurity and return the country to stability, the government in collaboration with its partners, have been employing various strategies, including the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration as well as the unification of forces.

In November 2023, hundreds of former rebels and government troops in the country’s unified forces were deployed at a long-overdue ceremony, marking progress for the country’s peace process.

“We are going for elections and you are to make sure that peace prevails so that elections can proceed peacefully,” Information Minister Michael Makuei told the soldiers at the time, in anticipation of the election hitherto planned for December 2024, but which would then be postponed for two years, to December 2026.

And while 53,000 soldiers graduated under the first phase of the unification of forces and the government has set its eyes on the second phase of the remining unit, there have been pockets of violence, exacerbated by individuals, including from forces allied to various groups as well as armed civilians, raising the odds for a more strategic approach to disarm and safeguard the country’s peace and stability.

Public eyes will be trained on the new order to affirm that guns are on the right hands and peace and security is welcomed for a durable stay in South Sudan.