BOR – A civil society activist has called on South Sudan army chief to intervene and stop unprofessional conduct by some officers in the ongoing disarmament in Bor, Jonglei State, as a drunk officer is filmed holding an elderly woman at gunpoint.
Bol Deng Bol, the Executive Director of INTREPID South Sudan, said the forceful disarmament exercise which started in late October, is marred with concerning unprofessional conducts by some security forces.
The misconducts, the organization said, include intimidation, extortion of money and other assets, and violence – meted on the unarmed civilians and some NGOs were also not spared.
“We are alarmed by the fact that this process is quickly veering off the mandate and inflicting both physical and psychological harms to the citizens,” Deng said.
He urged the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of the South Sudan Peoples Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Governor of Jonglei State to stop the “vices being committed by the forces” and to ensure accountability for the harms inflicted in this operation disarmament.
The activist statement follows the release of a viral video showing an intoxicated officer in National Security Service officer holding a woman at gun point and forcing her to plead for her life.
The army spokesperson has not released an official statement regarding the incident and the individual involved.
“It was overwhelming for her and her family. She is not the only one. Many similar cases, some undocumented, have happened and still happening throughout the door-to-door search.”
Deng also called on Bor residents to cautiously go about your businesses, and report any such incidences without hesitation.