By Matik Kueth
A joint security operation led by the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has seized a major cache of illegal weapons in Juba, marking one of the most significant operations in recent months to curb armed violence in the capital.
The joint operation, which includes SSPDF, National Security Service (NSS), and South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS), has so far confiscated at least 230 firearms, including AK-47 rifles, pistols, light machine guns, and rounds of ammunition, along with crossbows, pangas, and other deadly weapons.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Lt. Gen. Paul Nang, Chief of Defense Forces, said the disarmament drive, launched in early October, aims to restore public safety and dismantle armed groups operating within residential areas.
“Juba residents have lived in fear for too long. We are now seeing the results of our efforts. Incidents of gunfire and insecurity have dropped sharply since the start of this operation,” Lt. Gen. Nang stated.
Lt. Gen. Koang Thou, SSPDF’s Operation Commander, stated that several items connected to the outlawed Red Belt Movement were also seized during the raids, including t-shirts, ranks, and what security agents described as “witchcraft materials.”
He said some of the seized weapons are believed to have been in the hands of Red Belt sympathizers and rogue elements within the city.
“We have recorded 230 firearms so far, including 64 pistols. These include 49 firearms linked to the SSPDF, 40 to National Security, and 35 to Police units, while 68 are unmarked and 52 are from unverified sources,” he stressed.
“We are using recovered items belonging to the Red Belt group as evidence in our investigations,” he added.
No tolerance for illegal guns
On his part, Gen. Abraham Manyuat, Inspector General of Police, cautioned civilians to refrain from possessing automatic weapons, saying such arms are exclusively reserved for members of the organized forces.
“Automatic guns are not authorized for non-soldiers. Anyone carrying such a weapon is a criminal. These guns belong in military depots, not in homes or vehicles,” he said.
He noted that the ongoing search operations would continue until the capital is free from illicit firearms.
“You may escape today, but we will find you tomorrow. This is not a one-time campaign; it’s a continuous effort. Guns must be in the hands of trained soldiers, and only those on duty,” he warned.
Committee to trace weapons
To ensure accountability, a special committee will be formed to trace the origins of all confiscated firearms, Gen. Majok said.
“If any weapon is confirmed to belong to a legitimate unit, it will be returned. But those without clear records will be kept away permanently. We cannot allow unverified weapons back onto the streets,” he explained.
The ongoing disarmament follows months of heightened security concerns in Juba, where sporadic shootings and armed robberies had unsettled residents.
Authorities blamed much of the violence on criminal gangs and former combatants still in possession of service weapons.
The latest sweep is part of a broader national effort to disarm civilians and enforce control over firearms amid fears of rising crime in the country.