Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi speaks at Freedom Hall. June 24, 2023. | Photo: Awan Moses/Eye Radio

Vice President for Service Cluster Hussein Abdelbagi on Saturday cautioned against an alleged proliferation of firearms in the hands of civilians in Bor town of Jonglei State.

Abdelbaggi made the remarks during a royal event to honor and welcome General Johnson Olony to Juba for accepting peace with the government.

The vice president said the situation in Greater Bor needs urgent intervention before it gets out of hand.

“The thing that I saw in Bor on my last visit is that it is something shameful,” the vice president said.

“If we do not take this into account, the situation in Bor could be worst than Malakal because the people in the region dream of heavy weapons in an illegal manner.”

It is not clear if the official was comparing the possibility of violence in Bor with the recent fighting at Malakal POC or last year’s factional conflict in Upper Nile State.

Abdelbagi further stated that the illegal possession of guns by civilians has created insecurity and is posing threats to developmental activities in the restive region.

“There are ongoing development processes in the region, including road networks, schools and hospitals, but the question is how can we do this? Some communities are targeting the assets of development partners such as sites and cars.”

On May 25, 2023, a UN agency said a group of armed motorbike riders looted five Lorries loaded with food supplies outside of the UN compound in Bor town.

There was also an attack on workers of the Africa Resource Corporation along Gatdiang-Akobo road on February 2023, but the assailants were reportedly not from Bor.

The state government reported no casualties, but the attackers reportedly burnt down two new Bulldozers machines that were clearing the Gatdiang-Akobo road.

“These behaviors impede the development process. The question is who will be responsible for this and find development in the region,” Abdelbagi said further.

On Wednesday, June 21, 2023 the Governance Cluster forwarded to the cabinet a draft Civilians Disarmament Bill 2023 for deliberation.

Once approved, the bill will be tabled at the national legislature for enactment into law after which a nationwide disarmament could be implemented.

According to researchers, prior to South Sudan’s independence, there were between 1.9 and 3.2 million small arms in circulation, with about two-thirds of these in the hands of civilians.

They said the primary source of weapons to civilians were the civil wars.

Experts stated that the flow of weapons from the organized forces has proved problematic despite disarmament campaigns.

It has been alleged that the collected weapons often trickle back into the communities.