Gen Lul Ruai, SSPDF Spokesperson | Credit | Eye Radio

The army spokesperson says the ongoing gun search in Juba is part of preparations for the marking of the SPLA Day, which has been postponed to next Thursday.

SPLA Day marks the day the Sudan People’s Liberation Army was formed, and it is commemorated every year in remembrance of a group of the then Sudanese soldiers who rebelled against the Khartoum regime in 1983.

This morning, some residents of Juba woke up to a house-to-house gun search. Some of them say they were not aware of the exercise.

However, the SSPDF spokesperson, Major-General Lul Ruai Koang said the search is part of beefing up the security situation in the capital Juba ahead of the big day.

“What we have been doing is a normal beefing up of security within Juba, and doing some house to house searches so that in case there are people who are keeping guns illegally, then these guns are removed from those ones who are supposed to handle them.”

“A national holiday brings big crowds together, people of all walks of life, and when there are large crowds of people it is always essential for security precautionary measures to be taken so that some evil-minded people do not plan evil things against us,” he added.

Speaking to Eye Radio this morning, Major-General Lul stresses that the security officers have been instructed to conduct the gun search professionally.

He urged residents of Juba to report to the nearest police post, national security or the army headquarters any misconduct by the security officers during the gun search.

Major-General Lul added that the day which is commemorated annually on May 16, has been pushed to next week – though tomorrow remains a public holiday.

“What we have been doing is to ensure maximum security for the would be celebrants on the 16^th or now on the 23^rd, the new date for the celebration.”

The army spokesperson explained to Eye Radio why the celebration was postponed.

“There are three main reasons, one, and we were expecting a high turnout of regional and some international dignitaries to grace the occasion as the 36^th anniversary as well as the inauguration of the new building. Most of the dignitaries requested the postponement because there are a lot of schedules. Secondly, we are doing some minor repairs, here and there, putting some final touches on the building, as well as some construction of the road that is connecting Bilpam to the main road. We hope to put the final touches maybe in the next five days. The other ones are the logistical arrangement, of course, most of these dignitaries are going to stay in the hotel and there was a need for our logistics to be right. So, these are the three reasons why the celebrations were postponed.”