Disarmament only option to secure Warrap, says Governor Aleu
The government will silence guns through disarmament to tame communal conflict in Warrap State, said the area governor, Aleu Ayieny Aleu.
Speaking to the media at his residence yesterday, Aleu said guns were the major cause of conflict in the state.
He warned civilians who had not handed over their guns to comply in due time before the army forcefully disarmed them. He assured them of protection from the army deployed across the state.
“For your protection, there is enough army in the area. You will be protected from whatever threats that are coming and you should not be a threat to yourselves or to the army,” he assured civilians.
Governor Aleu called for unity among communities to achieve peace and stability in the state. He noted that he left the state after over 5,000 guns had been seized in three counties.
“I am sure if I were there, most of the guns would have been handed over except for the peace spoilers who did not want to hand over their guns.” The army is going to remove those guns by force if they can’t bring them peacefully,” he reiterated.
“The cattle rustlers think guns are everything to them. It will not be easy for them to give up their guns, but they will hand over the guns whether they like it or not. The whole thing is based around guns and cattle. I think if guns are removed, cattle will not be rustled by anybody. “
Aleu arrived in Juba on Monday from the Arab Republic of Egypt, after a month-long hospitalisation trip.
Aleu indicated that he would use the agreement held at the recent conference in Tonj, as a map and reference for solving the problem of renewed clashes in the three districts of Tonj.
“I demand individuals and communities who bear arms to hand it over to the state government immediately,” said the governor.
Warrap State had been facing a lot of damage related to communal and intercommunal conflict, majorly over land ownership cases or cattle rustling.
Lasting promise
Late in May 2022, Aleu briefed President Salva Kiir Mayardit to disarm all the guns in the hands of civilians in his state towards the end of July, 2022.
This was after presenting a security report to the Greater Tonj Community Peace Conference, adding that the security situation was calm in Warrap State and Abyei Special Administrative Area.
