By Yiep Joseph
One Citizen Network for Democracy (OCND) organization has reported 234 gun violence incidents in South Sudan in 2024 and recommended peaceful disarmament.
According to a statement extended to the media, the organization conducted a one-year study from January to December 2024 with the help of media reports across the country.
However, the organization acknowledged that some of the gun-violent incidents were not reported on media due to inaccessibility to get the information as well as failure by the concern to report.
As part of its Truth Lab flagship project on gun violence and extremism in South Sudan, the incidents are perpetrated by individuals, armed youth, rebel groups, and government soldiers against the civilian population and military personnel as well.
The project used a media monitoring study as a strategy to assess the degree of human suffering as a result of gun violence across the ten states, including the three administrative areas of the Republic of South Sudan.
The report analysed gun violence incidents and attacks that resulted in injuries, deaths, and displacements within the communities in the country.
“This study established that out of the 234 gun violence incidents OCND documented across the country, most of them were perpetrated by armed youth who don’t have any political agenda opposed to the sitting government and have not publicly declared any movement against both the state and national governments,” the statement partly read.
It added that the armed youth and other gun violence actors have caused serious human rights abuses, deaths, and injuries to the citizens, including foreign nationals, as well as suffering for the civil population in different parts of the country.
“This attack had led to displacements, abductions, and destruction of property with civilians, especially women, and children as victims, and livestock raided or killed in the process of the attacks,” it read.
According to the report, the gun violence incidents happened as a result of cattle raiding, intercommunal and intracommunal conflicts, land grabbing, suicide, accidents, and ambushes along the way in some parts of the country due to insecurity.
“Throughout 2024, gun violence killed 755 people; among them were 657 South Sudanese civilians, 81 soldiers, and 17 foreign nationals,” the report read partly.
The organization recommends the need for the government to carry out disarmament in order to reduce gun violence in the country.
“The government needs to implement effective disarmament programs to collect weapons from civilians, ex-combatants, and militia groups in communities across the country,” it partly read.
It added that addressing the incidents of gun violence in South Sudan requires a comprehensive and highly coordinated approach from the government institutions accompanied by a strong political will by the leaders holding power.
In conclusion, the prevalence of gun violence has hindered investment opportunities and economic growth, as well as it has challenged the government to reach remote areas with service delivery.
One Citizen Network for Democracy (OCND) is a legally registered, youth-led, non-governmental organization with the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), founded in 2021 with its headquarters in Juba, South Sudan.
The organization’s work and programs are not for profit but for the benefit of the communities in South Sudan.
The organization’s main purpose is to enhance democracy, good governance, and human rights and to empower individuals, groups, and communities to participate in nation-building.
OCND’s programs also include strengthening cohesion by promoting peace and combating violence and extremism in the community.