The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has destroyed a number of weapons surrendered to the mission rather than return them to the SPLA-Juba leader Salva Kiir, who had demanded the weapons from the UN.
Kiir last month accused UNMISS of hosting people with guns inside the protection camps. He said he wanted the guns to be returned to him. Most of the weapons were surrendered earlier this year or last December by deserting soldiers who sought UN protection.
The United Nations radio service in South Sudan reported today that UNMISS Chief Ellen Magrethe Loej presided over the weapons destruction exercise, which resulted in the destruction of 15 AK47, 10 pistols plus knives and sticks.
Loej said the United Nations Mine Action Service carried out the act. “This is the first in a series of such weapons and ammunition destruction events that will take place through the month of December.”
“Next week it will be Malakal and then it will followed by similar activities in Nasir, Bentiu , Wau and Bor,” said Loej.
Meanwhile, the acting spokesperson of UNMISS Joseph Contreras noted that the exercise was carried out “with the full agreement of the national government.”
He stressed that the national government did not object to the exercise.
Update, 17:25: This story has been updated to include the comment of UNMISS Spokesperson Joseph Contreras
Photo: Noreen O’Gallagher/Twitter
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UN in South Sudan to destroy confiscated weapons (21 Nov.)