(Juba) – South Sudan’s national army has announced it will begin a disarmament campaign targeting armed youth in violence hit regions of the country, starting with a voluntary approach but warning that it will turn forceful if weapons are not surrendered within one week.
The decision follows President Salva Kiir’s declaration of a six month state of emergency last week in Warrap State and Mayom County, areas that have recently experienced a sharp rise in deadly inter communal violence linked to cattle raids and revenge attacks.
The state of emergency is aimed at restoring order in these communities where armed clashes between cattle herders have become frequent and deadly.
Speaking in Juba on Monday, the spokesperson for the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), Major General Lul Ruai Koang, said the military is already deploying troops to the affected areas. He stated that the initial phase of the disarmament campaign will be voluntary.
“We are giving the youth in these areas a grace period of one week to hand over their weapons voluntarily,” he said.
However, he warned that if the youth fail to comply, the army will begin what he described as a “coordinated and simultaneous forceful disarmament” operation. “Failure will result in the administration of harsh and punitive measures,” Koang added, without specifying what those measures would be.
The plan comes in response to a surge of violence that has left hundreds dead in recent months. The United Nations reported earlier this month that more than 200 people were killed in March alone due to cattle-related conflicts, with at least 80 additional deaths recorded in the weeks that followed.
Cattle related violence is a long standing issue in South Sudan, particularly during the dry season when water and grazing lands become scarce. Young men in many communities are often heavily armed and involved in cattle raids, sometimes as part of revenge attacks following earlier killings or thefts. These conflicts are further complicated by ethnic and political tensions, which continue to threaten the country’s stability.
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, but insecurity remains widespread, worsened by years of civil war, weak governance, and high levels of poverty. Despite being rich in oil resources, the country faces ongoing economic struggles and humanitarian crises.
The SSPDF is urging local leaders and residents to cooperate in order to avoid further bloodshed and instability. With the state of emergency now in place, the government says it is prepared to take strong action to prevent future attacks and bring armed youth under control.
