SSPDF to armed youth: handover arms or face harsh punitive measures

By Denis Ejulu

The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) on Monday issued one week ultimatum to armed
civilians in Warrap State and Mayom County, Unity State to either voluntarily disarm or face forceful
disarmament.
Lul Ruai Koang, SSPDF spokesperson said the move to disarm in the two areas comes in the wake of
President Salva Kiir’s order last week which imposed the state of emergency in the two areas.
Over 80 people were killed last week during inter-communal clashes in Tonj East County of Warrap
State.
“All armed youth in Warrap State and Mayom County of Unity State, are given grace period of one week
to voluntarily start handing over their weapons, to civil authority and SSPDF forces conducting the
disarmament,” Koang said during press conference held at the military headquarters in Juba, the capital
of South Sudan.

He said the order enforces the presidential decree, which imposed state of emergency for six months in
Warrap State and Mayom County.
Koang warned that SSPDF forces will launch coordinated and simultaneous forceful disarmament
exercises upon the expiry of the one week ultimatum, adding that forces have already been dispatched
to the two areas,
“Forces on disarmament are operating under the terms of reference, contained in the presidential
decree on declaration of the state of emergency. All armed youth are requested to comply with the
presidential decree; failure will result in administration of harsh and punitive measures,” he disclosed.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), revealed recently that since December 2024, Tonj
East, in Warrap State, has been plagued by a series of violent incidents, including cattle raiding and
revenge attacks involving large numbers of armed youth from neighboring communities.
In March, more than 200 people are estimated to have died during the inter-communal conflict, it said.
In addition, Koang said that they are seeking to start recruitment of 3,000 fresh recruits into the riverine
force of the SSPDF, including 1000 recruits into the SSPDF peacekeeping mission.

He disclosed that the riverine forces recruits will be trained for six months period in Upper Nile State,
and meanwhile the recruits for the peacekeeping mission will be trained at Wunliet, Central Equatoria
State.
“Recruitment commences tomorrow (Tuesday) and it will run for a period of two weeks. Each state is
required to register 240 and 200 each from the three administrative areas,” Koang said.