South Sudan’s deepening economic crisis, which has resulted in more than a year of unpaid salaries for organized forces, is driving a surge in illegal arms trading, with dangerous consequences for peace and stability, the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has warned.
CEPO Executive Director Edmund Yakani said the worsening financial hardship is pushing some members of the security and defense institutions into selling weapons purchased with public funds for national defense.
These arms, he warned, are ending up in the hands of cattle raiders and politicians seeking to arm their supporters for violent conflict.
“When forces go for over a year without salaries, survival becomes a struggle, and the illegal arms trade becomes a tempting income source,” Yakani said. “This is directly fueling deadly intercommunal clashes and politically motivated violence across the country.”
Yakani commended recent operations in Wau and Warrap that led to the arrest of individuals transporting weapons.
In Wau, two Boda Boda riders were caught with RPG-7 launchers and rockets, while in Warrap, a woman was found with bullets concealed in a sack of sorghum. He said such incidents are common but often go unreported.
He noted that some communities are now fighting with the firepower of conventional armies for hours, leading to devastating loss of life and the breakdown of social cohesion.
Yakani warned that political instability among the country’s leaders is enabling the trade to flourish, as the absence of consensus on peace leaves room for profiteers to exploit the situation.
He urged the government to urgently resolve the salary crisis, stabilize the economy, and crack down on arms trafficking. CEPO, he said, “is engaging all political stakeholders to push for inclusive dialogue and a peaceful political transition.”
“Without stability and economic recovery, the illegal arms market will remain lucrative, and South Sudan will remain trapped in cycles of violence,” Yakani stressed.
