Grassroots Momentum Builds
Over a fortnight, residents of Mankien and surrounding payams handed over more than one hundred rifles, pistols and AK-47s, responding to a call from local chiefs and administrators who cited resolutions of last month’s county-level peace forum.
Governor Riek Bim Top presided at the collection ceremony, praising volunteers while urging officials to widen the campaign beyond main roads before seasonal floods cut access.
Security Context in Greater Upper Nile
Unity State, in the oil-rich Greater Upper Nile, has long battled cattle raids, revenge killings, and an influx of small arms dating back to the 2013-18 civil war, data from Crisis Group show.
Although a 2018 peace deal slowed large-scale battles, communal violence now accounts for a disproportionate share of national casualties, keeping humanitarian corridors fragile.
Challenges of Rainy Season Logistics
Collectors now face washed-out tracks and swollen rivers. Lieutenant James Gatdet, head of the task force, notes, “Some villages are reachable only by canoe; coordinating safe transport for seized weapons is complex”.
Officials fear momentum could fade if rains delay visits, yet they stress patience to avoid forced searches that might erode trust painstakingly built with armed youths.
Voices from the Ground
Women leaders credit the initiative with reducing night gunfire. “Children finally sleep through storms without mistaking thunder for bullets,” says Nyayang Ruai, a Mankien teacher who helped translate peace messages into Nuer.
Analysts caution that disarmament must be matched with livelihoods. Without jobs or pasture security, young herders may rearm quickly, warns researcher Peter Biar, pointing to similar cycles in Jonglei.
What Comes Next for Peace
The state cabinet plans mobile courts to prosecute illicit gun traders and is lobbying Juba for funds to store surrendered weapons securely until national stockpile facilities are upgraded.
If the upcoming dry season brings measurable declines in cross-county raids, leaders hope Unity’s model could inspire comparable drives across Warrap, Jonglei and beyond, anchoring the country’s fragile transition.