Gov’t Urged to Crack Down on Heavy Weapons Supply to Armed Youth

By Awan Achiek

The Duk County Youth Association in Juba has called on the national and state governments to urgently investigate the deadly violence in Palaidhim that left 13 people dead and 26 others injured, and to hold those responsible accountable.

The attack, which occurred on September 24, 2026, involved young men from Duk County and neighboring Twic East County in Jonglei State.

In a press release issued on Friday, the association’s chairperson, Mamer Makuei Mamer, urged authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the violence and ensure accountability.

“We, the Duk County Youth Association in Juba, respectfully call on the national and state governments to urgently investigate the Palaidhim attack and ensure accountability for those responsible,” Mamer said.

Mamer urged relevant security institutions to investigate and curb the supply of heavy weaponry to armed youth groups, warning that it could further intensify the conflict.

“We urge relevant security organs to investigate and curb the supply of heavy weaponry to armed youth groups. All parties to the conflict must return to lawful and peaceful means of resolving their disputes,” he stated.

He also called upon the Peace Committee and other stakeholders to intensify mediation efforts to prevent further loss of life, and for the diplomatic and humanitarian community in Juba to pay closer attention to this escalating conflict.

The youth leader called on all parties involved in the conflict to abandon violence and embrace peaceful dispute resolution.

“As Duk youth living in Juba, we stand in solidarity with our community while committing ourselves to advocacy through peaceful means. We urge swift, decisive action from all relevant authorities to end this cycle of violence,” Mamer added.

He condemned the attack on Palaidhim and urged a prompt and transparent investigation.

“We call on relevant authorities to conduct a prompt and transparent investigation and to communicate accurate information to the public without delay.”

Mamer noted that the attack occurred just one day after the state government dispatched Brig. Gen. Chol Gutkom to Duk Padiet on a mission to de-escalate tensions between the two communities.

“That violence resumed so soon after this effort is deeply discouraging and raises serious questions about the sincerity of ongoing peace initiatives on the other side of this conflict,” he said.

“We reaffirm that our community’s consistent position has been to pursue legal and peaceful resolution of this land dispute.”

He appealed to fellow youth from Duk to continue exercising restraint and prioritize the protection of civilian lives.

“We also join our community in raising concern over the continued access of attackers to heavy weaponry, including machine guns and armored vehicles,” he said.

“We call for a thorough investigation into how such arms are reaching civilian actors involved in this conflict.”