Lakes State, South Sudan
November 17,2021—The community of Jiir Payam in Rumbek Central County has voluntarily surrendered at least 38 illegal firearms to the government of Lakes State early this week.
Speaking to local radio station, Sultan Lueth Marial Buoc, the chief of Jiir Payam of Rumbek Central said the illegal arms were handed over voluntarily by their owners to the chiefs but revealed that the exercise shall be a forceful disarmament from next month onwards.
“We have told them that whenever we get illegal firearms, we will bring them but when we reach 1 December and there are people who are resisting the voluntary disarmament it will be their responsibility,” Sultan Lueth warned.
In his part, information minister William Koji Kirjok acknowledged that the youth of Jiir Payam in Rumbek Central County have voluntarily surrendered their illegal arms to the government in the presence of state governor on Tuesday.
Koji said since early November, the governor has been touring the counties encouraging voluntary disarmament through local chiefs, executive directors, paramount chiefs, commissioners and Payam administrators to ensure that it’s voluntary and peaceful; however, if that option fails, the state government may decide to run the disarmament exercise through military means.
“We have finished with Rumbek Central County and we have gone to Rumbek East and we have finished with Rumbek North and there will be a joint meeting with Rumbek Central, Cueibet, and Rumbek North. And it was the same message and the deadline given for firearms disarmament is November.”, Minister Koji said.
He stressed that on account of monthly reports they are getting, there is a huge collection of illegal firearms going on and if any individuals or groups continue to resist up to January 2022 , then those who will continue to resist will be disarmed forcefully.
According to Minister Koji, 37 AK-47 rifles and 1 PKM machinegun were voluntarily surrendered to the government in Rumbek Central County.
