Statewide Firearms Sweep
Acting Information Minister William Koji Kerjok told reporters in Rumbek that security units have begun collecting civilian weapons in Wulu, Cueibet, Rumbek East and other hubs.
Koji declined to disclose early figures, stressing that numbers would be shared once the multistage operation ends and verification is complete.
Red-Line on Guns in Towns
Koji reiterated that carrying firearms inside urban areas is strictly forbidden. He warned that youthful cattle herders who enter markets armed risk immediate arrest and prosecution under state law.
Targeting Illegal Alcohol
Alongside the weapons sweep, forces are seizing and destroying homemade spirits already outlawed in Lakes State.
“Those persisting in distillation or consumption will answer in court and pay fines,” the minister emphasised, noting several cases already filed.
Civil Society Perspective
Activist Daniel Laat welcomed the initiative, saying residents have lived in fear of sudden revenge killings when armed youths visit town.
He urged security teams to keep searching for guns even after discovering alcohol caches, arguing that firearms remain the greater threat.
Legal Framework and Enforcement
State regulations ban both civilian firearms inside municipalities and unlicensed alcohol production. Offenders face confiscation, fines or jail, depending on judicial rulings.
Officials maintain that a transparent legal route, rather than ad-hoc punishment, will reinforce public confidence in the campaign.
Regional Security Implications
Analysts observe that successful disarmament in Lakes State could reduce cross-county cattle raids and reprisals, easing wider tensions in South Sudan’s central belt.
Authorities hope disciplined enforcement will encourage neighbouring states to intensify their own control measures, fostering a broader climate of stability.