Prominent Jonglei-based militia leader pardoned, transferred to Juba

JUBA — A prominent Jonglei-based militia leader was peacefully transferred to the capital on Sunday following a government pardon aimed at de-escalating local tensions, community and security sources confirmed.

Leek Mamer Leek, the leader of the Bor-based “Red Belt” group, was picked up from his home village of Angakuei in the Baidit area on January 4, 2026.

The operation was led by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) for Operations, Gen. Kong Thaou, alongside Gen. Gabriel Jok Riak Makol, both from hailing from Jonglei State.

A local youth leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Sudans Post this morning that the move was the result of direct negotiations between Mamer and national security officials.

“There was no prior involvement of the Angakuei or Bor communities in arranging this meeting. The SSPDF reached out to Leek directly,” the source said, adding that Mamer was accompanied to Juba by nine members of his group.

The transfer follows a significant shift in the government’s stance toward the Red Belt Movement. In October 2025, authorities had designated the group—originally formed as a community vigilante force—as a rebel organization.

Upon arrival in Juba, Mamer attended a high-level security summit at the residence of veteran political figure Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk. The meeting included the CDF, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the Director General of the National Security Service’s Internal Security Bureau (NSS–ISB).

“The meeting ended successfully with a resolution that Leek Mamer Leek will be officially pardoned by the CDF, and all charges linking him to a rebellion will be scrapped,” the youth leader told Sudans Post.

Before departing for Juba, Mamer and the military delegation met briefly with the Governor of Jonglei State, Riak Gai Kok, in Bor.

The peaceful resolution underscores the government’s increasing tactical reliance on local tribal militias to bolster its defense as it faces expanding rebel insurgencies across multiple states.

This accommodation of the Red Belt leader highlights a shift toward strategic co-option in a region where the lines between state security forces and localized armed groups have become increasingly blurred.