By Lodu William Odiya
As Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) ordered the Red Belt to join government forces, their where about remain unknown.
Red Belt is a vigilante group that recently emerged in Jonglei State.
Just over the weekend, the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) Chief of Defense Force ordered for reintegration of the Red Belt in the National army, the question of their whereabouts remains unanswered.
With an Eye towards the group to welcome the call from the Millitary Chief, their whereabouts remain unclear.
In an exclusive interview with this outlet, Samuel Ateny Pech, Bor County Commissioner, said that the whereabout and the respond from the Redbelt is not yet known.
“If they will not join, this will depend on the time given. The problem now is the whereabout of the red belt now is not known so if they are willing to join no one is communicating to them” he said.
“We have no clue and we don’t know where they are and we are not hearing what they are saying, whether they are positive or negative about the order no one will commend about it” he added.
Commissioner Pech underscored the security situation in Bor is calm, since date 27th that they clashed with the forces in Bor.
“Now there are no sign of gangs and if the citizens are fearing that is up to them but what I know so far, they are more secure than before” he emphasized.
However, when contacted, the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) spokesperson Maj.Gen. Lul Ruai Koang said he has not received any information about the willingness of the Red Belt to join the National Army.
“I have not received any information from the command in Jonglei that they responded; it looks like they have not yet responded” Lul said.
Late last month, Jonglei State authorities accused the Red Belt of orchestrating a months-long campaign of violence and alleged that it was responsible for a series of attacks, including a deadly ambush over the weekend that killed a young girl and injured two others.
The latest incident linked to them occurred on September 27, when suspected Red Belt members were denied entry to a wrestling tournament in Bor for carrying weapons.
Later that day, they allegedly ambushed National Security Forces at Karuma Bridge (an area in Bor), escalating tensions and prompting renewed calls for security enforcement.
Recently authorities in Jonglei State stepped up security measures following clashes between the Red Belt armed youth group and state security forces.
The state government announced the deployment of additional national security personnel alongside advanced surveillance vehicles aimed at curbing insecurity and reinforcing peace efforts.
The new measures were outlined during a courtesy visit to Bor by Major General Deng Akeen Deng, Chief of Operations of the National Security Service (NSS).