Lakes pushing for ‘comprehensive’ disarmament of civilians – police

JUBA – Police authorities in South Sudan in Lakes state are saying that they are pushing for comprehensive disarmament exercise amid escalating cycle of inter-communal violence that has killed over 100 people since February.

Speaking to Sudans Post on Monday, Lakes state police spokesman, Captain Elijah Mabor Makuach, said they are working on setting up a comprehensive disarmament process which he said is the only available solution and tool to end communal violence in the restive state.

“One of the solutions is comprehensive disarmament. If the civilians are disarmed, the police will be in a position to arrest and enforce law and order in the state,” Makuach said on phone from Rumbek.

He said the police find it difficult to maintain law and order amid the proliferation of firearms in the hands of civilians.

“The challenges facing police in the state include the presence of a huge number of guns in the hands of civilians. This can’t allow the police to do its work effectively,” he said.

“If someone commits a crime and runs to the cattle camp where there is a huge number of armed youth. The Police find it hard to go and apprehend the culprits because armed youth are possessing firearms which they use defense themselves,” he added.

The police spokesman said disarming civilians will enable the police to strengthen its relationship with the civil population and enforce law and order in a restive state.

“After the comprehensive disarmament, police will be able to conduct massive awareness to the law communities to educate them about their contribution toward security maintenance,” he stated.

The State has been experiencing waves of violence mainly fueled by revenge attacks, cattle raiding, and banditry.

The state is awash with illegal guns in the hands of the civil population.

Several attempts by state authorities to disarm civilians have not borne fruits, leading to casualties on both civilians and soldiers.

Inter-communal violence in the restive Lakes state has left 105 people killed since February.

Sudans Post was able to confirm this figures citing official statistics indicating these people killed in gun-related violence.