By Kei Emmanuel Duku and Jacob Onuha Nelson
A sinister pattern of external interference is crippling Central Equatoria State’s fight against narcotics.
The disruption allows arrested drug suspects to evade prosecution, directly contributing to a deadly surge in youth gang violence across Juba city.
The alarming admission surfaced on Tuesday during an ordinary, high-stakes meeting of the Central Equatoria State Security Committee.
Chaired by Lt. Gen. Rabi Mujung Emmanuel, the State Governor, the committee reviewed a sobering report from the Director of Drugs Control. The report detailed the unyielding surge in narcotics consumption and the operational nightmares faced by anti-drug units.
The situation has escalated beyond mere street crime. Leon Abe Brown, Central Equatoria State, Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Agencies, conveyed the committee’s deep concerns over the alarming rise in illicit drug use and the correlating surge in youth gang violence plaguing Juba.
He grimly noted that these combined scourges continue to claim lives while destabilizing communities.
“At times, when suspects are arrested, interference from other stakeholders obstructs justice,” Minister Brown declared. This pointed statement confirms that arrests are often rendered meaningless when powerful, unnamed individuals intervene, effectively providing a shield for drug suspects and undermining every effort made by law enforcement.
In response to this failure, the CES Security Committee has pledged to reinforce the special court handling drug-related cases. This measure aims to ensure the court operates with the necessary independence and effectiveness.
Minister Brown issued a strong call to action, demanding internal unity: “Let us work jointly and ensure every unit cooperates to safeguard our communities.”
The meeting concluded with a forceful commitment from the State Government to restore order and promote a drug-free State. Yet, the primary challenge remains the shadowy hand of obstruction that keeps the drug trade, and the violence it spawns, alive.
The Director of Drugs Control’s report provided essential context, emphasizing the operational difficulties faced by enforcement teams. These difficulties are compounded by an environment where high-value arrests are frequently met with intervention from figures referred to broadly as stakeholders, who normally undermine the legal process before cases can reach definitive judgment.
The government’s drive to ensure the special drug court operates effectively is a necessary remedial step. It is intended to build a fortified, non-corruptible channel for prosecuting these crimes, recognizing that strong internal cooperation is essential to counter the formidable external forces currently obstructing law enforcement.
However, the illicit use of drugs is a significant and escalating problem in Juba, South Sudan,
driven by ongoing conflict, economic hardship, weak rule of law, and porous borders