Leaders in Bor County, Jonglei State, have agreed to open dialogue with members of the Red Belt vigilante group in an effort to peacefully end the standoff, following a high-level meeting on the security situation in Jonglei state.
Bor County Commissioner, Ateny Pech, announced that the community has resolved to integrate the Red Belt members into the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces under its Division Eight or expel them from the county if they refuse.
Commissioner Ateny told Radio Tamazuj that the wider Bor community is united in condemning the group’s activities.
“The community has collectively resolved to condemn the activities of Red Belt, as reflected in the speeches and statements delivered by members of parliament, paramount chiefs and youth leaders,” he said.
“The condemnation is firm and unanimous. The community has also agreed to engage with the families of Red Belt members to persuade them either to integrate into the national army under Division 8 or to leave the territory of Bor County entirely,” he added.
He pointed out that local leaders and residents have agreed to speak directly with families of the vigilante group members to help convince them to abandon independent operations and join the regular forces.
According to Ateny, the Baidit Payam community is scheduled to meet to persuade Red Belt chairperson Leek Mamer to surrender. If this attempt fails, the commissioner warned that the government will move to apprehend him.
The meeting that produced the resolution was chaired by the commissioner’s office and attended by Bor County MPs, Payam administrators, traditional chiefs, civil administrators and generals from Division Eight.
The Red Belt, a community-based defense force drawn from the Dinka Bor community, gained prominence earlier this year after being accused of carrying out attacks — including one on government troops in September. The national army has since classified it as a rebel group.
However, the group’s leader, Leek Mamer, has rejected the designation, insisting the Red Belt remains a vigilante force formed to defend local communities in the face of persistent insecurity and what he describes as inadequate state protection.
Last week, two people, including the deputy commander of the Red Belt and a national security officer, were killed during an operation by security forces in Bor. The incident occurred at a hotel in the town center, leading to hours of unrest and gunfire that caused panic among residents.
Human rights activist Ter Manyang Gatwech welcomed the decision by local authorities to pursue dialogue with the Red Belt group.
“Dialogue is the best way to resolve conflict in modern society,” Gatwech said. “As a human rights activist, I welcome this initiative for opening dialogue to understand the concerns raised by the Red Belt movement. South Sudanese communities should learn how to enhance dialogue and negotiation.”