5000 militiamen disband in Sudan’s W. Bahr El Ghazal state

May 17, 2007 (WAU) — The Government of Western Bahr El Ghazal state has announced that over 5,000 members of a former militia group have been disarmed and integrated into the Southern Sudan army, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army.

Western Bahr El Ghazal Minister of Information and Communication Baptist Sebit said the successful disarmament of the former armed group will have a positive impact on security in the state, the independent Sudan Radio Service (SRS) reported today.

“It was only the day before yesterday and yesterday in Raja that a complete disarmament of the militia groups has taken place successfully in Western Bahr el Ghazal state. So as for the last three days, there is nothing called militia for peace forces in Western Bahr el Ghazal state.’’said Baptist Sebit.

The minister says the effort has been successful, in part, because the state’s Committee for Disarmament and Reintegration is giving incentives to those who surrender their weapons to the authorities.

In a speech delivered in Malakal on May 16, the president of South Sudan government, Salva Kiir, called for militias and the armed groups to disband and to either joint the SPLA or the Sudanese army, saying that their existence is source of insecurity in the region.

(SRS/ST)