South Sudan’s military has set a one-week deadline for armed youths in Warrap and Mayom County to surrender their weapons voluntarily. This order follows a state of emergency declared by President Salva Kiir. Failure to comply will lead to forced disarmament by the military, as promised by SSPDF spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang.
South Sudan’s military has issued a one-week deadline for armed youths in Warrap State and Mayom County of Unity State to voluntarily surrender their weapons. This ultimatum, announced by Major General Lul Ruai Koang of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), comes in light of a recent six-month state of emergency declared by President Salva Kiir. The decision was made to tackle rising instances of violent clashes in these areas.
In a statement to the press on Monday, Major General Koang emphasized that military personnel have already been deployed to these states to enforce the upcoming disarmament actions. He stated, “All armed youth in Warrap State and Mayom County Unity State are given a grace period of one week to voluntarily start handing over their weapons to civilian authorities and SSPDF forces conducting disarmament.”
Should the deadline pass without compliance, the military plans to proceed with forced disarmament measures. General Ruai warned that refusal to surrender arms could result in strict penalties. “Upon the elapse of the one week grace period, SSPDF forces will launch coordinated and simultaneous forceful disarmament exercises,” he remarked.
The military is operating under the legal framework provided by the presidential decree establishing the state of emergency, which allows for additional security measures in response to ongoing violence. The SSPDF has reached out to community leaders, urging them to encourage the youth to surrender their weapons peacefully, as resistance could worsen the current instability.
This increase in military presence and urgency for disarmament comes amid growing concerns about the volatile situation within South Sudan. The governance and safety of regions affected by conflict are still precarious, and this directive aims to restore some semblance of order in the face of growing unrest.
In summary, South Sudan’s military has moved to curb violence in Warrap State and Mayom County by mandating a week-long voluntary disarmament for armed youths. Following this period, the SSPDF plans to forcibly disarm those who do not comply. Major General Koang has made it clear that this is in line with the state of emergency declared by President Kiir, aiming to address rising communal clashes and promote stability in these troubled regions.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
