Youth Surrender Signals Shift
More than 400 self-styled gang members walked into Nimule town hall last week, handed over pangas and knives, and publicly pledged peace, a gesture Governor Louis Lobong Lojore described as “a turning point for our youth.”
Government Reintegration Plan
Lobong’s office has tasked state police, army and wildlife officers with screening volunteers interested in uniformed careers, aiming to channel their energy into lawful service rather than street influence.
Vocational Training Backed by UNMISS
For those preferring civilian paths, a joint programme with UNMISS will deliver short courses in carpentry, mechanics, tailoring and agribusiness, coupled with micro-grants to help start cooperatives and reduce the lure of illicit income.
Communities Seek Lasting Stability
Local elders say stable livelihoods could calm tensions that have periodically shuttered Nimule’s cross-border market with Uganda, depriving farmers and traders of revenue.
Regional Perspective on DDR
Security analysts note that Eastern Equatoria’s approach aligns with broader African thinking on disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration, suggesting the state could become a case study for community-driven peacebuilding beyond South Sudan.