File photo: Some of the firearms collected of civilians in Rumbek, Lakes State. | Courtesy

Three national ministers, the first deputy parliamentary speaker, and an activist clashed on Wednesday over the status of the arms embargo imposed on South Sudan.

The discussion popped up at the 6th Governors’ Forum.

Government Spokesperson Michael Makuei Lueth renewed a call to the international community to lift the arms embargo on South Sudan to allow full implementation of the 2018 peace accord.

“One of the major problems that is actually facing the security arrangements, we have graduated phase one, but without arms,” said Makuei.

“You have seen we graduated them with sticks, how will we deploy them with sticks and the international community is telling us to deploy them, should we deploy them with sticks?”

He adds: “So, my request and my appeal to the UN Security Council is to lift the arms embargo.”

Makuei’s appeal was backed by Cabinet Affairs Minister Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro.

The information minister argues that the arms embargo has made difficult for the government to fully implement the security arrangements.

But Civil Society Activist, Nyakuma Peter rejected the call and asked the peace parties about where they are keeping the arms used during the conflict.

According to her, the arms embargo should remain.

“Where are the guns that were roaring since 2013 in this country? Where are they?” she asked.

“Because if you want to bring more guns into this country, you asked for lifting the arms embargo, which I see we have enough guns that can be used to graduate the forces, so where are those guns.”

Responding to the activist, the cabinet affairs minister, Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro disagreed, saying the arms embargo is a violation of the country’s sovereignty to protect itself.

“Arms embargo is a violation of the sovereign right of the Republic of South Sudan to protect itself, and for you as a South Sudanese to support something that violates the right of your citizens to defend itself, it is not correct,” Elia said.

The UN Security Council in May 2022, renewed the arms embargo and targeted sanctions on South Sudan by one more year.

The arms embargo was extended through a narrow margin of voting that saw the approval of 10 out of the 15 council members.

“The arms embargo is a clear violation of the United Nations chatters of the Republic of South Sudan as a member to protect itself,” the cabinet minister continued.

“If you support our country being violated, you go and sleep tonight and think about it, tomorrow you come and apologize publicly here.”

For her part, the Minister of Agriculture and the chairperson of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance, Josephine Joseph Lagu says there is arms proliferation in the country.

“It is true that there are arms in the hands of the civilian population, and I think this is what is now being termed as conflict at the sub-national level.”

“So really it is our responsibility as parties to the agreement to do all we possibly can to ensure that arms are taken off the hands of civilians.”

But Makuei insisted on his claim, saying disarmament cannot be carried out as the civil population is more equipped than the country’s army.

In response, Nathaniel Oyet, the first deputy speaker of the reconstituted national Legislature disagreed.

“The arms embargo came under the backdrop of the conflict, the conflict which started in 2013 was raging and this is what attracted the arms embargo,” he said.

Oyet blaming the arms embargo on a lack of political will in the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

He said the unified forces should continue to graduate with sticks and

“I’m sure by now this embargo could have been lifted if we were diligent and faithful to our signatures.”

“If we had implemented the peace agreement as required. I still want to reiterate that graduation with sticks should continue.”

The unity government has argued several times that its inability to buy guns has frustrated efforts to graduate the Unified Forces and curtail sub-national violence.

The government also believes the embargo has paralyzed law enforcement agencies and elevated the rise of ethnic militias across the county.

According to a report, the estimated total number of guns – both licit and illicit – held by civilians in South Sudan is 1,255,000 in 2017 and 3,000,000 in 2013.

Besides, the defense forces of South Sudan are reported to have 351,500 firearms.