Police Impound 400 Guns in Juba

[Elisabeth Janaina]

Police Impound 400 Guns in Juba
Police in Juba have netted over four hundred guns as part of a massive
re-disarmament in the South Sudanese capital.
05 June 2013
Police Impound 400 Guns in Juba
Ensuring order: South Sudanese police at a past public function. [Gurtong]

By Waakhe Simon Wudu

JUBA, 4 June 2013 [Gurtong] - Interior Minister Alison Manani Magaya
told Gurtong that the operation which was launched in March this year
following increasing insecurity concerns in the capital is on going
and is proving to be working.

“Over 400 guns have been collected so far. We will continue with the
operation, including moving to areas we suspect to have a large number
of illegal guns”, he said.

He said the guns are being held at stores currently. However, Gurtong
could not verify them independently.

The operation is being carried out on organised forces following
earlier orders from the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir.

President Kiir had earlier on, following technical consultations with
the Ministries of Interior and Security, said no any other organised
forces should carry guns when not authorised unless when on duty.

Police Spokesperson Colonel James Monday in March said the Ministry
has set three months for the collection of the unauthorised guns in
the hands of all organised forces and after which a round of
re-disarmament will be launched in Juba.

The campaign intensified following public outcry over allegations that
some of the security operatives have been involved in criminal acts as
well as threatening civilians with their guns.

“We are making sure that this order is implemented and if we find any
guns which belong to security institutions we return them and they are
registered. So it’s going on and I think is doing well”, said the
Minister.

He further stated that insecurity in the capital is reducing
especially along the Juba-Nimule, Juba-Torit and Juba-Bor roads and in
the Capital, Juba.

Insecurity has hiked in recent months in Juba and along most key roads
linking the capital to several of the States, threatening nation
building.

The United Nations warned early this year that the menace is likely to
spill and become a national threat unless the government puts more
efforts to intervene.
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