Civilians disarmament raises concern in Sudan’s Upper Nile
Aug 29, 2006 (JUBA) — Following the voluntary disarmament of civilians in Akobo, Upper Nile State last month, area residents are now raising concerns about attacks from neighboring communities with whom they have had clashes with in the past.
Reacting to these concerns, Jonglei state Deputy Governor Nyang Chol says the disarmament process will also take place in the neighboring communities. Speaking to Sudan Radio Service in Akobo last week, Nyang said the government plans to disarm the Murle as soon as it finishes disarming the Lou-Nuer.
The Deputy Governor said that he is optimistic that disarmament will lead to more development, adding that people will have time to concentrate on more positive activities.
He said the disarmed youth now have an option of joining the SPLA, the police or reintegrating back into their communities.
In a bid to restore law and order in the region following the signing of the north-south Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in January 2005, the Sudanese government introduced a disarmament programme in Jonglei last December. Soon, however, the forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) were confronted by White Army elements of the Lou Nuer community who fiercely resisted what they saw as forced disarmament. Hundreds of civilians and SPLA soldiers were killed, houses and villages burnt and cattle looted.
Despite the violence, community chiefs acknowledge that no functioning government can be established in the region without a comprehensive disarmament of the various armed groups.
In Akobo, further east from where the clashes took place, close to the Ethiopian border, Lou chiefs and local authorities are trying to convince their constituents of the benefits of handing in their weapons voluntarily before the main SPLA force of 3,000 soldiers arrives to implement a forced disarmament.
(ST/SRS/IRIN)