By Peter Kuol Kuch
Residents of Bor, Jonglei State, are strongly decrying the brutal disarmament exercise currently being conducted by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) .
Some residents reported that the exercise has involved widespread harassment, detention, and torture of ordinary civilians by the forces.
Speaking to this publication, Kur A., a student in Bor, recounted his experience during a crackdown last Thursday. He stressed that he was rounded up with several other youths while simply going about his daily activities and detained at the Malual-chat military barracks.
“I was taken yesterday together with other brothers. We were accused of being part of a ‘crew’ and at the same time a ‘Red Belt,’ but I don’t know about any of that—it caught me by surprise. I am a student. I didn’t go to school that day; I was heading to town to do some business activities. So, I was detained for several hours,” Kur said.
Kur emphasized that he witnessed severe humiliation when security personnel ordered him and others to form a line, forcing them to grab each other’s clothes at the back as they walked in the street.
“I was told to join the line and we were moved catching one another’s clothes. We were taken to Malual-chat and spent many hours there, not until my father went and talked to them, that’s when they released me,” he stated. He was ultimately released the same day without charges.
According to Kur, the group detained included traders, students, and cattle camp youth. While some have been released, others reportedly remain in the hands of the security forces.
Meanwhile, Mayen P., a youth in Bor, said he witnessed a similar scenario today where youths were being harassed.
Mayen fears the brutal actions of the soldiers will instil stigma and trauma among the residents. “I walked down to town today; I found out that the soldiers are still detaining the youth. A friend of mine was taken while I was watching. So, we are afraid; this is not the way people should be treated,” Mayen commented.
This week, news has been trending on social media detailing the questionable conduct displayed by security forces during the disarmament in Bor. Several reports indicate that security personnel have threatened residents and demanded money and other properties during the exercise.
Efforts to reach the SSPDF authorities for comment were unsuccessful.
The crackdown follows an announcement earlier this month by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Paul Nang, who declared a disarmament exercise would be carried out in Bor targeting armed groups. This move was specifically aimed at identifying the Red Belt group, which is reportedly seen as a threat to the government in Jonglei.