Jonglei Governor launches anti-small arms campaign
March 25, 2013 (BOR/JUBA) – A caravan stands next to a tent. On it was a phrase, “Bye Bye Guns – I don’t need you any more”, signifying the start of an anti-small arms campaign in South Sudan’s largest state.
The ‘Community Security Caravan’ crusade, that seeks to discourage acquisition and use of arms in communities, was unveiled by the state Governor, Kuol Manyang.
The caravan, officials say, will over the next one year, go through the country’s nine other states, with messages that have been carefully crafted to “disarm the minds” of civilians in the young nation.
“The initiative seeks to complement a series of interactive radio programmes that earlier sought to dissuade civilians from acquiring arms as well as encourage those who already owned arms to peacefully surrender them to the police,” a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, reads in part.
Governor Manyang, while speaking at the launch, acknowledged the magnitude of insecurity South Sudan’s largest state, and thanked government together with UNDP, who chose Jonglei for the project launch.
“We fought with guns for 22 years to win our freedom. We now have the army and police to deal with our security concerns. Why should we fight against each other? It’s now time to fight against poverty using our minds – not guns,” he said.
The governor, however, appealed to all citizens all over South Sudan to abandon inter-communal violence, hand over their guns to police and embrace peaceful methods of resolving disputes and conflicts.
“Let’s Hold Hands – Not Guns”, he stressed.
Violence in form of cattle raid and inter-tribal conflicts have characterised South Sudan’s post-independence era, ever since the country attained nationhood in July 2011, after a self-determination referendum where its citizens overwhelmingly voted for separation from Sudan.
The vote was a key part of the 2005 peace deal, which ended over two decades of civil war between north and south Sudan, in which over 2 million southerners reportedly lost lives.
Since 2005, small arms and light weapons, according to South Sudan Bureau for Community Security and Small Arms Control (CSSAC), has killed over 8,000 people, during political rebellions, cattle raiding, and child abductions in the state.
“Light weapons destroy us in so many ways. Let’s give them up and build a bright future for our children,” said Aguti Adut Aguti, SSAC’s senior inspector in Jonglei.
Balázs Horváth, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) country director, said he is optimistic the newly launched anti-small arms initiative will enable citizens, particularly the youth, to shun violence and embrace alternative means to resolve dispute and conflicts.
He however said sustained efforts are needed to sensitise citizens on the usefulness of the campaign, if the use of firearms is to be eradicated from communities.
The initiative, funded by the European Union, the Japanese government, and the UK aid arm (DIFID), is a project, which is jointly run by South Sudan Bureau for Community Security and Small Arms Control (CSSAC) and United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Community Security and Arms Control (CSAC).
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