South Sudan establishes ‘Bureau’ for arms control
By James Gatdet Dak
July 14, 2008 (JUBA) – The Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) on Monday resolved to establish an autonomous Bureau with the function to design, review and monitor implementation of GoSS policies on Community Security and Arms Control (CSAC) programs.
In a workshop chaired by the Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny with participation of various relevant Ministries, Commissions, agencies, senior police and SPLA officers, the Bureau was also mandated to develop a public information strategy and sensitization campaigns to ensure coherent and standard information dissemination on CSAC issues, build confidence between communities and change public attitudes towards small arms ownership.
The objective for the establishment of the Bureau was to harmonize arms control regulations throughout Southern Sudan in line with regional and international small arms agreements and Best Practice Guidelines.
The Bureau shall also work to reduce the negative impact of arms and insecurity on human life, livelihoods, development and peaceful co-existence between communities.
It will strive to strengthen the capacity of GoSS, law enforcement agencies, civil society and the public to address CSAC concerns.
The Bureau will also mobilize technical, financial and material support for a range of complementary interventions including arms control, registration of weapons, recovery, storage, development and rule of law, that together aim to improve the security environment for communities.
It may also establish branches at State and County levels for effective coordination and monitoring of implementation of its policies on the ground by various levels of government.
During the twenty-one years of war, various communities in Southern Sudan armed themselves through internal and external sources posing frequent insecurity concerns among the civil population.
The Bureau shall be chaired by a Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson and shall have specialized directorates with specific functions. It shall be supervised by the GoSS Vice President.
(ST)