The first stage of disarmament is underway in one of South Sudan most volatile areas.
Authorities in Rumbek Central County, of South Sudan’s Lakes State, gave a seven-day deadline last month to local chiefs and payam administrators, for the collection of illegal guns to be handed over to the government.
However, local chiefs of the five payams in Rumbek Central County have so far only handed over 24 AK47 riffles to authorities.
Deputy Governor Mabor Achol says the government does not want to order state security organs to forcefully disarm civilians; however, he warned local chiefs against disobeying the government order and hinted that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of illegal firearms that have still not been turned in.
Rumbek Central County (RCC) Commissioner Abraham Meen Kouce says RCC is the leading county for illegal firearms and criticized the chiefs for not properly implementing the disarmament campaign.
Ethnic fighting between clans in RCC has, several times, moved rapidly towards Rumbek town, which is the capital city of Lakes State.
There are numerous times when security forces have had to be called out to intervene.This has led to further conflict between armed civilian elements, police and SPLA soldiers that tried to keep the fighting out of the state capital.