The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) launched a disarmament campaign targeting armed youth in Mayom County, Unity State, starting in the county headquarters, an area considered relatively stable.
The move follows an order earlier this month by the SSPDF for armed youth in Warrap State and Mayom County to surrender their weapons voluntarily within a week or face forceful disarmament.
The directive comes amid a six-month state of emergency declared by President Salva Kiir after a surge in deadly intercommunal cattle raids.
Mayom County Commissioner James Lily Kuol told Radio Tamazuj that the operation began last Friday in the county headquarters and Mankien payam before expanding to remote areas, particularly cattle camps.
“All areas and nearby payams will be disarmed. I don’t yet have a full report on the number of weapons collected so far,” Kuol said.
When asked whether the process was voluntary or forced, Kuol said authorities aimed for a peaceful approach but would use force if necessary. “It is peaceful, but if anyone resists, the forces will act,” he said.
He added that while specialized SSPDF units assigned for disarmament had not yet arrived in Mayom, the operation was being conducted by Division 4 forces stationed in Unity State.
“The disarmament will cover all 11 payams of Mayom County—no area will be left out,” Kuol said. “This is a directive from SSPDF headquarters in Juba.”
Puok Tuil, Mayom County’s paramount chief, said the disarmament began last Friday and expressed hope it would reduce crime and revenge killings.
“Since the operation started, there has been no violence in Mayom town or Mankien, where disarmament began,” Tuil said.
Youth representative Michael Tuach Magot told Radio Tamazuj that forces were engaging community leaders to encourage cooperation, a shift from earlier threats of forced disarmament.
“We welcome disarmament because these weapons are killing us through cattle raids,” Magot said. “But the SSPDF should work with youth leaders to ensure a peaceful process.”
He noted that while few weapons were found in Mayom town, heavily armed youth remain in cattle camps, requiring careful handling.
Last month, the U.N. reported hundreds killed in cattle raids and revenge attacks since December, including more than 200 in March and about 80 in recent weeks. The violence adds to ongoing political tensions in a country still recovering from a 2013-2018 civil war.