JUBA – The Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has appealed to Jonglei State’s new vigilante outfit, Red Belt, to join the army or face forceful disarmament.
The order published by Bilpam’z director of Public Relations Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, ordered the armed youth group to join with their weapons.
“A committee will be formed and sent to Malual-Chaat to receive members of the Red Belt movement joining the army,” it partly reads.
The Red Belt group which is heavily armed, subs itself as a community defense group that protect Bor people from cattle raiders and child abductors. But it has since been accused of robberies, ambushes and terrorising civilians.
Gen. Paul Nang Majok has also ordered armed youths in Warrap to disarm within 21 days or face “a comprehensive forceful disarmament.”
Gen. Nang further called on members of the SPLA-IO to report to nearby SSPDF barracks in preparation for Phase 2 of the security arrangements.
“Members of the SPLA-IO who do not comply with the above orders would be considered as hostile forces and will face the full force of the national army.”
