(MAYOM) – The Governor of Unity State, Riek Bim Top, has announced that armed youth in the state have agreed to disarm within the next two weeks. The civilian disarmament exercise, he said, will begin soon, and the weapons will be handed over to local chiefs and community leaders.
Governor Top made the announcement during the Ruadhkeey-Mankien Conference, a peace initiative launched over the weekend in Mayom County. The event brought together national and state legislators, government officials, community elders, women’s representatives and youth leaders to discuss ways to address insecurity and promote peaceful coexistence.
The disarmament plan forms part of the state of emergency declared by President Salva Kiir in June 2025 for Mayom County and parts of Warrap State, following continued violence largely attributed to the high number of firearms held by civilians.
According to Governor Top, the implementation of the plan is expected to commence within 14 days.
“All people agree unanimously that the guns will be given to the government, the disarmament, and that will be through the chiefs and other opinion leaders,” he said in remarks aired by the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC). “But those who will resist, then now this is where the force will be used. We agree, in a few days, this thing will be effective, probably about two weeks from now.”
The conference also addressed concerns from cattle owners regarding how their livestock would be protected after disarmament. Participants urged the government to ensure proper security measures are in place during and after the process.
In addition, spiritual leaders were assigned a key role in the process, with a call to use their influence to encourage young people to hand over their weapons voluntarily and embrace peaceful alternatives.
