Gov’t, Japan detonate 181 MM motor in Juba
The government through its National Mine Action Authority (NMAA) in collaboration with the Japanese Government has detonated unexploded leftover ordinance at the Referendum Residential Area of the Juba suburb.
The 181 MM Motor, suspected to have been shot ways back during South Sudan struggles against the Sudan government, was discovered by children last month and parents then reported to the national mine action authority.
Speaking to the press shortly before the remote detonation by the Japanese Ambassador to South Sudan, Sagara Fuyuki on Wednesday, the NMAA Chairperson Jurkuch Barach Jurkuch commended the Japanese Government for funding the work of the Exploded Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team.
Mr. Barach stated that the NMAA could not have been clearing mines to make the land safe for people to settle and cultivate in South Sudan without the support of the Japanese government.
“That is why we are very thankful to the generous people and Government of Japan that have enabled us to save lives,” Barach said “Let us be hopeful that there are no other unexploded ordinances (UXOs) in the area, and they may be there but not yet discovered. So, people are at risk.”
“This work has been going on for quite a long time with support from the Japanese government and the support is making us now to save lives of people that are living in the vicinity, especially this area,” he added.
Barach said the NMAA’s message to all South Sudanese, wherever they are in South Sudan “is that if they encounter any unknown object, they should not touch it but should be immediately reported to the National Mine Action Authority or nearby police or community leaders such as chiefs.”
He called on the government of Japan to renew funding so that the NMAA could continue supporting the EOD to remove UXOs and land mines clearance nationwide.
Ambassador Fuyuki promised to continue supporting the organization after considering a thorough review and consideration of their request in line with the impact of Japanese funding in saving lives in the country.
He explained the reason why the Japanese government has picked interest in helping South Sudanese people and the government, saying it was particularly to guarantee human security to all the citizens.
“Human security is the concept that every single person’s safety should be equally protected, and every single person’s dignity is equally respected were and then people can pursue their happiness, aspiration, and dreams and create a beautiful brighter future for his or her family,” Fuyuki said.
In her part, Martha Keji, 34, and mother of three commended the NMAA and the government of Japan for giving mine education that resulted in the identification of the 181 MM Motor by the neighborhood children.
“I want to thank the government for removing this dangerous object amidst us. It is extremely dangerous even to our children who are always curious whenever they see strange objects, they want to know it abs use as tools for playing,” she said.
“The training they gave us is beneficial that is why we can educate our children about tempering with any an unknown object and when they saw [the motor] they immediately told elders and it was subsequently reported,”
The mine risk education, carried out by the NMAA in collocation with the United Nations Mine Action in South Sudan (UNMASS), was conducted nationwide to raise awareness among the citizens about the danger of mines and UXOs.
Wednesday’s event marked a series in government – partners’ efforts in mine clearance in the country following a similar detonation of the antitank land mine by UNMASS in Gondokoro Payam of Juba County.
After failing to meet the initial July 2021 deadline, the government of South Sudan, in November 2020 was granted a five-year extension until July 9, 2026, to clear all the landmine fields.
This was upon a request to the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention during the 18th meeting of the state parties on the prohibition, use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel mines and their destruction.
The government and my partners, however, have expressed concern over insecurity and flooding in some of the mine-infested areas as impediments to meeting the 2026 deadline.
