Joint operation seizes 230 firearms in house-to-house search

JUBA – A joint security operation led by the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has seized more than 230 firearms during a house-to-house search in the capital, Juba.

The operation forms part of an intensified disarmament campaign aimed at curbing armed violence and restoring stability in the city.

The confiscated weapons—ranging from AK-47 rifles, pistols, and light machine guns to rounds of ammunition, crossbows, and pangas—were displayed by the joint forces comprising the SSPDF, the National Security Service (NSS), and the South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS).

Speaking during the display, Lt. Gen. Koang Thou, the SSPDF Operation Commander, said the forces had recovered 320 firearms and 64 pistols.

“The SSPDF has 49 firearms, National Security 40, Police 35, numberless 15, no name 68, and unverified unit 52. The total number of firearms is 230, including 64 pistols. These are the results we received during the search,” he explained.

Lt. Gen. Thou added that several items linked to the recently outlawed Red Belt Movement were also recovered during the operation.

“We used items belonging to the Red Belt group as evidence. You can see their t-shirts, ranks, and witchcraft materials,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Gen. Abraham Manyuat, emphasized that automatic weapons are strictly reserved for members of the organized forces.

“Automatic guns are not authorized for non-soldiers. Anyone carrying such a weapon is a criminal. These guns are meant to be stored in military depots,” he said, warning that security agencies will continue to track down those in illegal possession of firearms.

“We want to send a message to criminals: you may hide or be lucky not to be caught today, but we will arrest you and hold you accountable,” the IGP warned.

“We want guns in the hands of soldiers—and only those soldiers who have a mission,” he added.

Gen. Manyuat further described the Red Belt Movement as a rebel organization, stressing that the responsibility for security and safety lies solely with the country’s organized forces. He commended the joint security team for their efforts and vowed that the operation would continue.

“This search will not stop; it will continue across all sectors. We will conduct operations wherever we receive credible information, even if it involves an individual hiding a gun,” he said.

For his part, the SSPDF Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Dr. Paul Majok Nang, said residents of Juba had previously lived in fear due to the proliferation of illegal weapons and sporadic gunfire, but noted that such incidents have significantly reduced since the start of the operation.

“Anyone found moving through residential areas with a gun must be arrested. This time, we must apprehend anyone carrying a pistol and treat them as a criminal because the order is clear—guns must remain in military stockpiles,” Gen. Majok stressed.

He further stated that a committee will be tasked with investigating the seized firearms to determine their origin.

“If a pistol is found to belong to a recognized unit, it will be returned to that unit. However, unconfirmed weapons must never find their way back onto the streets,” he concluded.