South Sudan army starts voluntary civilian disarmament in Unity state

The South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) announced on Tuesday plans to start voluntary civilian disarmament in Unity State.

 “The only means of ending revenge killings is to disarm civilians, we are waiting instructions to carryout peaceful disarmament of small arms that are a threat to our civilians,”  said Maj.Gen  William Manyang Mayak, the commander of the SSPDF fourth division in Bentiu town in an interview.

Mayak said they are particularly targeting armed youth with camouflage meant for the exclusive use of the SSPDF.

“I have instructed our soldiers to collect army uniforms from any civilians before disarmament,” he said.

Mayak said they plan to engage traditional chiefs, youth and women leaders before carrying out disarmament.

He said Unity State is among the areas with the highest number of armed civilians in the country. In June 2023, citizens in the state urged their government to carryout peaceful civilian disarmament to curb spike in revenge killings