In a crackdown on urban crime, police have arrested 32 suspected gang members in a targeted security operation in Gumbo Sherikat, a suburb of the capital, Juba.
The operation, which took place between September 29 and 30, was hailed by authorities as a crucial step towards restoring public safety.
National Police Spokesperson Maj. Gen. James Monday Enoka announced that the suspects are accused of a range of violent crimes, including murder, robbery, and theft.
Maj. Gen. Enoka stated that the suspects were found in possession of an arsenal of weapons, including pangas [machetes], knives, metal cutters, and wooden sticks.”
Enoka confirmed that criminal cases have been formally opened at the Gumbo Police Division and that investigations are ongoing.
He assured the public that those against whom sufficient evidence is found will be promptly brought before a court to face justice.
The recent operation in Gumbo Sherikat is part of a broader, ongoing efforts against gang-related violence and crime in Juba.
The capital, like many rapidly growing urban centers in post-conflict nations, has faced significant challenges with law and order.
Analysts attribute widespread poverty and high youth unemployment to the rise in gang groups.
For years, Juba residents have reported being victimized by criminal gangs, most notoriously one referred to as the “Niggers”, who have often been blamed for offense robberies and muggings.
Gumbo Sherikat, along with neighborhoods have frequently been cited as hotspots.
In the past few years, authorities have launched repeated crackdowns, with varying degrees of success.
In 2023, Police announced the arrest of over 40 suspected members of the gang groups in a series of raids, recovering weapons and stolen property.
In 2024, also several other security operations were carried out in Juba’s suburbs, leading to dozens of arrests.
