By Alan Clement
Governor of Unity State, Justice Riek Bim Top, has officially overseen the handover of more than 100 firearms voluntarily surrendered by civilians.
The handover of the illegal firearms was officiated by the governor in an event in Mankien on Thursday August 14th, 2025, which marked the completion of phase one of the state’s peaceful disarmament initiative.
According to the governor’s office, the disarmament effort follows resolutions reached during a recent peace conference, which emphasized community-led approaches to curbing illegal firearm possession and saw active participation from payam administrators, traditional chiefs, and other influential community figures.
A statement from the governor’s office confirmed that the firearms were collected over the past two weeks through coordinated efforts by local payam administrators, traditional chiefs, and influential community leaders who committed to the resolutions of the peace conference.
Local authorities have expressed concern that the ongoing rainy season is hindering access to remote communities, slowing down the collection process. Despite these logistical challenges, the governor urged officials to remain steadfast and accelerate efforts toward Phase Two of the disarmament campaign.
According to the governor’s office, the disarmament initiative is structured in phases, and the governor has ordered the local authorities to increase their efforts and ensure that the number of guns collected in phase must exceed those collected during phase one.
The state government continues to urge community members still in possession of illegal firearms to cooperate voluntarily, emphasizing that the initiative is rooted in reconciliation and peacebuilding not coercion.
The voluntary disarmament program is part of broader efforts to reinforce peace and security across Unity State, following years of conflict and instability with the next phase expected to involve deeper engagement with hard-to-reach areas in close collaboration with community leaders.