The governor of Warrap State, General Aleu Ayieny Aleu, on Monday launched a peaceful disarmament campaign in the state’s restive Greater Tonj area, according to the state’s information minister.
The state has witnessed communal and sectional conflict for over two years with the most warring communities being the Luacnujang, Thiik, and Lou Paher. Over a hundred people were reportedly killed during the protracted communal conflict which escalated to the burning of houses and cattle raiding.
Though local authorities severally attempted to contain the violence, revenge and night attacks still happen although the state government has referred to these as isolated cases. Last month registered no violence in Tonj North and Tonj East which in the past had high incidents of cattle rustling, revenge attacks, and night killings.
The Warrap State information minister, Ring Deng Ading, said the state government launched the disarmament program in the three counties of Tonj East, Tonj North, and Tonj South.
“Today Governor Aleu Ayieny Aleu has launched the disarmament (program) in the three counties of Greater Tonj, that is Tonj East, North, and South and this is peaceful disarmament,” Minister Deng said. “The communities are willing to surrender their guns because the governor disseminated peace messages first among the then conflicting communities. The disarmament for the other remaining counties will be planned by the state government.”
For his part, Marco Agoor Malang, the Tonj South County commissioner, confirmed the peaceful disarmament program and said it started in Thiet town of his county.
“Governor launched the disarming civilians in Thiet Town of Tonj South County and he first talked to the SSPDF soldiers and their officers,” Commissioner Agoor said. “This is very important because there are two strategies for disarmament: There is the mindset where people need their minds to be disarmed and the forceful one if civilians who possess illegal small arms refuse to give them in.”
He added: “We have already started in Tonj South County where armed youth have surrendered their guns and those who have not will be asked to choose to join the regular forces so that they undergo training on how to use a gun.”