The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) have seized a substantial cache of weapons during a fresh, house-to-house disarmament operation in Juba City.
The disarmament is part of the government’s broader efforts to ensure stability and security across the country.
The joint security operation, launched in recent days, yesterday displayed the weapons confiscated from individuals during the process. Both light weapons, including guns and pistols, were paraded at a national security facility in an occasion witnessed by the army’s top officials. (Combined and streamlined these two paragraphs.)
The cache included weapons traced back to the SSPDF, the National Security Service, police, and other unmarked units or groups.
Addressing journalists during the event, Lt. Gen. Koang Thou, SSPDF Operation Commander, announced the breakdown of the confiscated firearms: “The total number of firearms is 230, including 64 pistols. These are the results we received during the search,” he announced.
The seized weapons also include AK-47 rifles, light machine guns, rounds of ammunition, crossbows, and pangas. (Added a comma for clarity and combined the list.)
Lt. Gen. Thou added that several items linked to the recently outlawed Red Belt Movement were also recovered.
“We used items belonging to the Red Belt group as evidence. You can see their t-shirts, ranks, and witchcraft materials,” he stated. (Used a stronger verb like ‘stated’ or ‘noted’ instead of ‘said’ in this context.)
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Lt. Gen. Abraham Manyuat Peter, emphasized that automatic weapons remain strictly for military use and warned that civilians caught possessing them would face severe punishment. (Clarified his title upfront.)
He commended the ongoing disarmament campaign and urged licensed gun owners to renew their permits immediately. The IGP called on all citizens to cease owning guns, reiterating the government’s responsibility to protect its citizens. (Used ‘commended’ instead of ‘appreciates’ and ‘reiterating’ for better news tone.)
Meanwhile, Gen. Paul Nang Majok, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of the SSPDF, reiterated his call for citizens to cease violence. He directed security forces to continue the disarmament efforts to ensure that the country achieves stability and lasting peace. (Clarified his title and used ‘CDF’ for short-hand.)