The authorities in Warrap State have said that more than 1,000 illegal guns have been voluntarily handed over to the state government over the last three months by the communities in Tonj North County.
Governor Aleu Ayieny Aleu in March launched a peaceful disarmament campaign in Thiet Town of Tonj South County in a bid to mitigate the escalating communal violence in the three restive counties of Tonj East, Tonj North, and Tonj South.
Riing Deng Adiing, the state information minister, told Radio Tamazuj Tuesday that 1, 246 small arms were collected in Tonj North County and the process was witnessed by the governor.
“I would like to bring to your attention that Warrap State has done a tremendous job in collecting 1, 246 guns in Tonj North County, and these guns were voluntarily handed over by the youth to local authorities and Governor Aleu Ayieny witnessed this when he has visited the county today (Tuesday),” Minister Deng said.
He added: “The challenge is that some armed youth are in hard to reach areas, like swampy areas, and it is difficult for them to get information, and moving from far areas to bring their guns to the local government units is not easy.”
The minister also said that the rainy season has started and constrains mobility to far-flung areas to carry out the disarmament campaign.
Meanwhile, Kuol Akoon Kuol, the Tonj North County commissioner said the disarmament exercise was progressing well.
“The disarmament is going on well and yesterday (Tuesday), the governor came and witnessed it. This peaceful disarmament is spearheaded by chiefs and cattle camp leaders and up to now more than 1,148 guns have been collected and are in the store at Warrap town,” he said. “There is no resistance because it is peaceful disarmament now. Local chiefs and heads of cattle camps are the ones doing the mobilization and reporting of collected guns to Bomas and Payams.”