THE DISARMAMENT CONVERSATION AND THE ROAD TO PEACE IN SOUTH SUDAN Fellow

Fellow Junubeen,

During our war of liberation, insurgency and counterinsurgency placed firearms in the hands of countless civilians. In many parts of our country, guns and bullets were the only symbols of modernity our people knew – so much so that guns and bullets even became a form of currency for local trade. The prevalence of firearms has become deeply ingrained in our society, to the extent that they are now interwoven with our traditional values. This harsh reality makes disarmament an extremely difficult – if not impossible – task for any legitimate authority.Following our hard-won independence, establishing law and order is very important. The proliferation of firearms, dating back to the colonial era, has fueled insecurity for generations.

Today, the problem has reached catastrophic levels, demanding urgent and strategic solutions.The issue of disarmament has recently dominated our national conversation. The violent clashes in Nasir, where the civil defense paramilitary group known as the White Army clashed with the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), were allegedly triggered by rumors of forced disarmament. The SSPDF, however, denies this claim, asserting that they were conducting a routine troop rotation.Regardless of the truth behind these claims, disarmament became the catalyst to the conflict in Nasir and surrounding areas, and now armed conflict threatens to engulf our nascent Republic. Disarmament is a highly sensitive issue, requiring careful handling.

Past campaigns have been poorly executed, leading to violent confrontations between organized forces and civilians.The tragic consequences of such failed disarmament efforts were evident on June 24, 2022, in Tonj, Warrap State, where 100 officers, NCOs, and soldiers were brutally murdered by armed civilians, along with the SSPDF commanding officer, Col. Amol Dau Deng. While this was a great loss to our nation, we are fortunate that the situation did not spiral into a cycle of revenge killings – unlike in Nasir, Upper Nile State. May the families of all who lost their lives that day find comfort and strength in these difficult times in our nascent Republic.

Compatriots, Like many nations, South Sudan has a deeply rooted gun culture. In the United States, the right to bear arms is enshrined in the Second Amendment of their Constitution, and even modest gun control reforms spark intense controversy – let alone disarmament. Similarly, any attempt at forced disarmament in our country is divisive and risks escalating into armed rebellion.For many communities, firearms have replaced traditional weapons such as clubs, spears, bows, and arrows – once symbols of rites of passage to adulthood. The war of liberation further entrenched the gun as a symbol of freedom. If disarmament is to succeed, it must be approached with a well-thought-out strategy. Any haphazard attempt will only lead to deadly clashes between organized forces and armed civilians.

Rather than politicized disarmament, our leaders should focus on enacting comprehensive gun laws. Firearms are deeply embedded in our culture, and we must begin a national conversation on whether the right to bear arms should be constitutionally recognized. At the very least, this is a crucial discussion as we shape our national constitutional-making process.The issue is not simply that civilians are armed – the real problem is the absence of laws regulating firearm ownership and use.

Historically, our customary laws governed the use of weapons. If all firearms were registered and licensed, and if bullets could be traced to specific weapons, perpetrators of gun-related crimes would be held accountable with far greater ease.Additionally, disarmament is closely tied to cattle raiding, as many herders rely on firearms to protect their livestock.

If disarmament is not carried out equitably, it leaves certain communities vulnerable to attack. Therefore, the issue of cattle raiding must be addressed alongside disarmament. To curb this practice, we must introduce strict laws against cattle theft and enforce them effectively.Cattle, like humans, have biometric signatures. Establishing a national database for cattle ownership would allow biometric tracking of stolen livestock. If our people understood that raided cows could be traced back to their rightful owners – and that severe legal consequences awaited cattle raiders – it would serve as a powerful deterrent.Forced disarmament is not a viable solution; it will only fuel further conflict between organized forces and local defense groups. In the long run, it is a disastrous approach. Instead, we must legislate strict gun control laws to curb violence, accompanied by a robust civic education campaign to inform citizens about these laws and their implications.

The unfortunate reality is that firearms have become part of our traditional values. If there is one thing that unites our civil population, it is the resistance to forced disarmament. This makes the task an immense challenge – if not impossible – for any legitimate authority. However, for the sake of peace and stability, we must work together to find solutions that honor our heritage while fostering a safer, more secure future for our children. Let us come together as one nation, united in our determination to overcome this challenge and fulfill the promises of our people’s struggle – total liberation.
Fellow countrymen and women, We Must Be United!
Cpt. Mabior Garang03/04/2025 National Conversation – South Sudan #TomatoRevolution#WeMustBeUnited 🍅✊🏿