Government and partners strategize on gangster crimes in Aweil

AWEIL – Northern Bahr El Gazal state authorities and national NGOs held a five-day strategic workshop last week to address the growing problem of gang-related crime among young people in Aweil.

The workshop focused on developing strategies to combat the use of drugs, such as tramadol, bangi, and alcohol, which are fueling violence and crime in the area.

Keer Wel Deng, the director of gender at the ministry of social welfare, told Sudans Post that the workshop, organized by a local NGO, aimed to develop plans to address the issue.

The workshop brought together 50 participants from various institutions, including parliamentarians, chiefs, youth representatives, women, and law enforcement.

Wel said the goal was to find ways to dissuade young people from joining gangs and engaging in harmful activities.

“They meet at night, form syndicates, and take drugs that paralyze them. As a society, we have seen that they have no future at all. We have invited the organized forces, MPs, and chiefs to look into ways of helping these young people,” he said.

Participants noted that cases of pregnancy, robbery, and other crimes were common and often linked to gang activity.

Mayen Kon, a member of parliament who heads the gender committee in the state legislative assembly, acknowledged the prevalence of gangs in Aweil Town and said he would introduce a motion to dismantle them.

“We need to pass an order so that they can be apprehended. Our aim is to dissuade them. They are known groups in the town, and they fight each other in places like Maper and Ayuang neighborhoods. They keep fighting and robbing people at night after they inhale drugs,” he said.

The MP described the situation as precarious and said that authorities would work with pharmacists to prevent the sale of drugs to young people and pass orders to curb drug use.