Apuk Community Leader Advocates Voluntary, Peaceful Disarmament Strategy

By Staff Writer

In a move to foster lasting peace, the Deputy Chairman of the Apuk Community in Juba, Mou Ambrose, has outlined new strategies centred on peaceful, voluntary disarmament, calling for unity and community-driven solutions.

Speaking during the Gogrial East County representation at the Warrap State Consultation Meeting last week Ambrose presented several implementation strategies for the government. These include public awareness and sensitisation efforts to educate the public on the importance and process of disarmament prior to its implementation.

He emphasised the need for engagement with traditional authorities by involving chiefs and elders to support and guide the disarmament process.

“Establishment of a unified chain of command is essential to ensure coordinated leadership during disarmament operations, avoiding confusion and abuse,” he stated.

Ambrose identified several challenges, including the lack of a security model, which results in persistent insecurity in disarmed areas, and poor communication infrastructure, which hinders timely coordination and reporting in insecure zones.

He noted that civilians would remain vulnerable after arms are removed from them.

He recommended expanding disarmament efforts to neighbouring states to avoid cross-border threats and restore broader regional peace.

Additionally, he proposed the establishment of community policing to foster local security ownership and cooperation with formal law enforcement.

“Creating mobile courts, staffed by qualified judges, will help address crimes efficiently in remote or affected areas, while empowering local authorities will enable them to resolve conflicts using unified customary laws,” he added.

Ambrose highlighted the construction of security roads to improve accessibility and response times in vulnerable areas as a critical necessity.

“Clarifying the roles of local lawmakers is vital to ensure accountability among local leaders (e.g., lieutenants, mayors), and reintroducing the SSPDF in Mayom County, Unity, will help reassert government control and enhance security,” he stated.

He also recommended establishing special patrol forces to monitor and protect communities in conflict-prone zones and deploying forces to conflict borders, particularly between Western Bahr el Ghazal and Unity States.