South Sudan’s military has imposed a one-week ultimatum for armed youth to surrender their weapons in Warrap State and Mayom County. This directive, linked to a state of emergency aimed at curbing violence, includes potential forceful disarmament if the deadline is overlooked. Community leaders are called upon to encourage cooperation among the youth.
The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) have issued a one-week deadline for armed youth to voluntarily surrender their weapons in Warrap State and Mayom County, Unity State. Major General Lul Ruai Koang, the SSPDF spokesperson, emphasized in a statement on Monday that military personnel have been dispatched to the affected regions to ensure compliance.
This urgent drawdown follows a six-month state of emergency declared by President Salva Kiir to address increasing violent confrontations among local communities. Following the presidential decree, which permits the South Sudanese government to deploy additional security forces, the SSPDF has outlined a plan to conduct disarmament operations.
Major General Ruai 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.” If they do not comply with the deadline, he warned that the military will take forceful measures to disarm them.
The spokesperson detailed that those who refuse to surrender their weapons could face strict repercussions. “Upon the elapse of the one-week grace period, SSPDF forces will launch coordinated and simultaneous forceful disarmament exercises,” he added. The message is clear: compliance is strongly urged, or there will be consequences.
SSPDF has called on local community leaders to assist in motivating the youth to disarm voluntarily. They have cautioned that any resistance could escalate tensions and lead to further instability in these regions. With a proper strategy outlined, the SSPDF hopes to mitigate violence and restore order in South Sudan’s turbulent areas.
In summary, the SSPDF has set a one-week deadline for armed civilians in Warrap State and Mayom County to surrender their weapons voluntarily. This comes as part of a larger state of emergency, addressing ongoing clashes in these areas. The military has assured that if the deadline is ignored, a forceful disarmament will follow, raising the stakes for non-compliance. Community involvement in persuading the youth to cooperate is seen as crucial to achieving peace and stability in the region.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
