By Philip Buda Ladu
South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) have commenced a major disarmament exercise in Warrap State and Mayom County of Unity State.
This follows President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s declaration of a six-month state of emergency as a result of escalating conflict.
SSPDF Spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang announced the arrival of forces for the operation during a press conference at the army General Headquarters in Bilpam on Monday.
Gen. Koang said the disarmament exercise will proceed in two phases: an initial period of voluntary disarmament followed by a forceful collection of weapons.
This move comes in direct response to escalating inter-communal violence and deteriorating security in these areas.
“In line with and immediate enforcement of the presidential decree on the declaration of a state of emergency for six months in Warrap State and Mayom County of Unity State, the SSPDF command would like to announce the arrival of forces tasked with the responsibility of conducting two types of disarmament,” Maj. Gen. Koang told reporters on Monday.
The first phase, Voluntary Disarmament, grants all armed youth in Warrap State and Mayom County a grace period of one week to surrender their weapons to civilian authorities and the SSPDF forces.
Upon the expiry of this one-week grace period, or ultimatum, the SSPDF will transition to Forceful Disarmament, removing the guns from the armed youth by force.
“Upon the expiry or upon the elapse of one week that has been given as a grace period, SSPDF forces will launch coordinated and simultaneous forceful disarmament exercises in Warrap and Mayom County,” Maj. Gen. Koang warned.
He emphasized that the disarmament forces are operating under strict “Terms of Reference (TOS) contained in the presidential decree on the declaration of a state of emergency.”
“All armed youth are requested to comply with the presidential decree. Failure will result in administration of harsh and punitive measures,” the spokesperson added.
State of Emergency
President Salva Kiir Mayardit declared the six-month state of emergency via a decree read on state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) on the evening of Thursday, June 5, 2025.
The Head of State cited the “deteriorating insecurity situation” due to intensified inter-communal violence as the primary reason for the drastic measure.
Reports from the previous week indicated deadly clashes in Tonj East County, Warrap State, which tragically claimed many lives, including 20 women.
Mayom County in Unity State has also been a hotspot, with local armed youth reportedly crossing into neighboring Warrap State for cattle raiding, exacerbating the conflict.
The declared “State of Emergency” is expected to significantly restrict civilian movement within the two affected areas.
This is not the first time President Kiir has imposed a state of emergency in parts of Warrap due to insecurity; a similar measure was enacted in July 2017 in Gogrial and parts of Tonj counties.
The declaration of the state of emergency in Warrap State coincided with the swearing-in of the new governor, Bol Wek Agoth, on Thursday last week.
Agoth, who previously served as a diplomat and in the security sector, has pledged to prioritize peace building, law enforcement, and good governance in the state during is swearing-in.
Just last Thursday morning, military airplanes reportedly launched airstrikes to deter violence linked to cattle raiding between the Gogrial region and Mayom County, highlighting the severity of the situation that prompted the presidential decree.