Top army generals, politicians accused of fueling ethnic violence by selling arms to civilians

JUBA – A South Sudan politician has accused senior South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) commanders and government officials of fueling the ongoing ethnic strife at the local levels across the country by selling weapons and ammunition to civilians.

In an exclusive interview with Sudans Post this morning, Deng-bil William, Chairman of African People’s Congress (APC) Party, accused senior government officials of supplying civilians with weapons used in communal violence and raiding of cattle.

“It is not a secret any more that civilians are getting arms and ammunitions from government officials and top military generals. Civilians are not buying these guns and ammunitions from Russia or China,” William told Sudans Post on phone interview on Friday.

“They are acquiring them here within our borders not in other countries; they are getting arms here in Juba from top generals officials,” William added.

William said the wide spread of illegal firearms in the hands of civilians have weakened the enforcement of rule of law in Jonglei, Lakes and Warrap States.

“Whenever their ethnic group is attacked, they will mobilize resources and guns and ammunitions and take them to their communities,” he said.

The outspoken youth leader urged the government to set up laws to regulate the flow of firearms.

“The government and national army control small firearms, it is no longer small arms, civilians are even getting RPG, PKM and JAK-12, so that government must tightened flow of arms to hands of civilians,” he said.

He stressed the need to prosecuted top military generals accused of supplying their communities with firearms.

“The generals should be investigated and if they are found to have involved in supplying arms and ammunitions to their communities or ethnic group, they should be prosecuted,” he said.