SSPDF urges Twic youth to return looted weapons

TWIC – Forces from the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) stationed between Twic County and the Abyei Administrative Area in Division 11 have issued a one-week ultimatum to armed youth in Turalei Payam, Twic County, to return weapons forcibly taken in February.

Maj. Gen. Juma Reyan Deng, an SSPDF officer in the area, announced the ultimatum on Tuesday, warning that failure to comply would lead to severe consequences for the defiant youth after the seizure of the weapons resulted in the deaths of two SSPDF officers.

According to Deng, the incident occurred on February 15 when armed youth overran a barracks in Turalei Payam, killed two officers, and fled with five weapons, including two PKM machine guns.

“I am making it clear: the weapons taken from our forces in Turalei must be returned immediately. Failure to comply will have serious consequences,” Deng stated during a community meeting organised by local authorities in Twic County over the weekend.

In response, Deng Beny, a representative of the armed youth in Akoc Payam, Twic County, claimed the attack was retaliation for the SSPDF’s earlier seizure of 48 weapons from the youth in Ayuok village, Amiet, without clear justification. Beny expressed a willingness to return the stolen weapons but called for a mutual exchange.

“We are ready to return the guns we took, but our weapons were also confiscated. I appeal to Officer Juma Reyan to work with his forces to return our weapons, and we will do the same,” Beny said.

Twic County has been embroiled in ongoing conflicts with neighbouring communities, including Abyei and Mayom County in Unity State, driven by disputed land and revenge killings. It remains unclear whether the youth will comply with the SSPDF’s demands.

Twic County is located in Warrap State. It borders Gogrial West County to the southwest and Gogrial East County to the southeast. It also borders Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State (Aweil East County) to the west, Abyei Administrative Area to the north and Unity State (Abiemnhom and Mayom counties) to the east.

The incident of weapon seizure highlighted by Reyan is reminiscent of the conflict in Nasir County of Upper Nile State. In early March, clashes broke out in the South Sudanese town of Nasir between members of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the White Army on 3 March 2025, resulting in the capture of the town’s army barracks by the White Army.