KUAJOK – At least 3,100 firearms have been voluntarily surrendered by armed youth in Tonj North County of South Sudan’s Warrap State in a major disarmament drive after recent airstrikes in neighbouring Tonj East, authorities confirmed.
The disarmament follows a state of emergency declared in Warrap and heightened military pressure from the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), which last week carried out bombardments targeting armed groups accused of destabilising the region.
Local officials say the show of force by the state, combined with the involvement of community leaders, has pushed many young men—locally known as Gelweng—to hand over weapons they have long used to protect cattle, often fueling deadly intercommunal conflicts.
Colonel Bak Anei, the Inspector of Police for Tonj North County, described the surrender as unusually smooth and peaceful despite the tense atmosphere in the aftermath of the Tonj South airstrike.
“The collection was not dangerous in terms of resistance,” he said. “The heads of cattle camps, known as Rorol Wut, worked closely with chiefs and persuaded the youth to comply. We have collected 3,100 guns of all assortments.”
The surrendered weapons include assault rifles, long-barreled guns, and improvised firearms commonly used in cattle raids and revenge attacks.
Bak emphasised that the cooperation between community elders and security forces was crucial in preventing violent confrontation during the operation.
He added that the weapons have been documented and will be reported to state authorities in Kuajok for further action.
“We will engage the state to ensure these guns do not remain idle in stores,” he said. “The government must now guarantee the security of communities whose protectors have laid down their arms.”
The disarmament exercise has taken place over the past month across several payams, including Alabek, Marial-Lou, Akok, and others. Authorities say the process is ongoing and expect more guns to be handed over voluntarily.
