Authorities in Bor County, Jonglei State, have said an ongoing disarmament operation in Bor Town is aimed solely at members of the Red Belt vigilante group, not local herders or rural residents, following growing concerns over rising insecurity in the area.
Bor County Commissioner Samuel Ateny Pech told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that the security operation was restricted to Bor Town and focused on seizing illegal weapons from members of the Red Belt group, which the army has described as a national security threat.
“The ongoing disarmament in Bor Town is targeted at illegal firearms only in town but not the payams and villages of Bor County, as it was agreed in the security meeting,” Pech said. “The members of Red Belt are known by names, so the security forces will not just arrest anybody. There should be no panic.”
Pech said the disarmament drive was peaceful, coordinated, and lawful, adding that authorities had tried to engage the group in dialogue before resorting to force.
“I formed a committee myself to dialogue with them, but they rejected it and even attacked a government convoy in which I was among,” he said. “I had to dissolve the committee because these people do not want dialogue, so we allowed the national government to carry out its investigation.”
Last week, army chief Gen. Paul Nang warned that the Red Belt movement in Bor County posed a “major threat to national security,” vowing to dismantle the group as joint security forces step up operations to recover illegal weapons nationwide.
The Red Belt group — an armed youth movement that emerged in recent months — claims to defend villages and cattle camps from raids in Bor County.
However, government officials accuse it of transforming into a criminal network involved in robbery, extortion, and attacks on government personnel.
Jonglei authorities have linked the group to several violent incidents around Bor, including ambushes and clashes with security forces.
Civil society leaders in Jonglei State have cautiously welcomed the ongoing disarmament exercise but urged authorities to protect civilians during the disarmament.
Bol Deng Bol, Executive Director of Intrepid South Sudan and Chairperson of the Jonglei Civil Society Network, said while the removal of illegal arms was essential, it must be paired with measures to guarantee civilian safety.
“The government should balance firearms control through disarmament and protection of civilians and their properties,” Bol said. “While removing illegal arms is vital, it must be matched with tangible security measures to protect communities, especially those living with their livestock, from armed attacks.”
Some residents of Bor who spoke to Radio Tamazuj also expressed concern about potential abuses or mistaken arrests.
Peter Ajak Ayom, a resident of Bor Town, said authorities must ensure the distinction between Red Belt members and ordinary civilians remains clear during the ongoing disarmament exercise in Bor.
“The government should be careful not to mistake locals for Red Belt members,” he said. “It is equally important to ensure protection of civilians and their properties during and after the disarmament.”
The disarmament campaign comes as South Sudan’s government intensifies nationwide efforts to curb the proliferation of weapons among civilians.