Clemency Letter Grants Amnesty to 18 Individuals
South Sudan President Salva Kiir has granted executive clemency and amnesty to Red Belt Group leader Leek Mamer Leek and 17 other members, according to a letter dated 21 January seen by Radio Tamazuj (Radio Tamazuj).
The letter frames the decision within a national unity and reconciliation approach, stating that the beneficiaries showed willingness to disarm and desist from armed violence against the Government (Radio Tamazuj).
Security Context: SSPDF Warning on Red Belt Threat
In October last year, SSPDF Chief Gen. Paul Nang publicly described the Red Belt Group as a major national security threat and said it would be dismantled as joint security forces stepped up efforts to seize illegal weapons (Radio Tamazuj).
Gen. Nang also disputed descriptions of Red Belt as a community organisation, calling it “an armed group that must be dealt with decisively,” according to the same report (Radio Tamazuj).
Legal Basis and Scope of the Amnesty Proclamation
President Kiir’s letter states that although the group engaged in activities considered harmful to state stability, the presidency is extending amnesty under constitutional authority (Radio Tamazuj).
The proclamation cites Article 101(q) of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011, as amended, and declares “Full and Absolute Amnesty” for the listed members under Leek Mamer Leek’s leadership (Radio Tamazuj).
It further says the amnesty extinguishes criminal liability for acts committed in furtherance of the movement’s objectives up to the date of the proclamation, and restores the civil rights of the 18 individuals (Radio Tamazuj).
21-Day Surrender Window and Reintegration Process
For other members, affiliates, and combatants not named, the letter orders an immediate cessation of hostile activities and recruitment, alongside a mandatory surrender directive (Radio Tamazuj).
It grants 21 days for remaining members to report to designated military or police outposts and to hand over weapons, communication equipment, and other illicit materials to authorities (Radio Tamazuj).
Those surrendering within the timeline are to be processed through the National Reintegration Program, with the letter stating they will be guaranteed fair treatment under the law (Radio Tamazuj).
Enforcement Warning if Members Decline the Offer
The letter warns that failure to surrender within the prescribed period will trigger the immediate resumption of full-scale security operations, with authorities committing to use necessary means to dissolve the group and prosecute those refusing the offer (Radio Tamazuj).
In practical terms, the message pairs reconciliation language with clear enforcement provisions, positioning disarmament and compliance as the route to legal relief and reintegration (Radio Tamazuj).