The South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) has blamed parental neglect for the growing wave of youth gang activity in Juba.
According to police spokesperson Maj. Gen. James Monday Enoka, many of the young people arrested in recent operations lacked proper guidance at home, which he says has contributed to their involvement in criminal behavior.
This comes after police detained more than 600 youths in a sweeping crackdown on gang-related crime across the capital.
“As parents, you allow your children to move with pangas and knives, and you don’t ask what they’re going to do with them. Who is to blame? It is you,” Enoka told reporters.
He emphasized that the crackdown is not only a law enforcement measure but also a corrective response to what he described as a failure in parenting, noting that some parents continue to deny their children’s involvement in gangs, even after arrests have been made.
“Some parents continue to deny the fact that their children were arrested as members of gang groups,” he added.
Enoka assured the public that the police will continue their operations until gang-related crimes are significantly reduced, urging parents to take responsibility for their children’s behavior and to report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station.
However, the civil society leader Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), called for caution and due process, urging the police to verify the identities and affiliations of those arrested to avoid detaining innocent individuals.
“I would like to appeal to the authorities to ensure that those arrested are verified, in order not to arrest innocent children who are simply socializing,” Yakani said.
While Yakani commended the police for addressing criminal activity, he stressed that the crackdown should not result in the detention of school-going children who are not involved in gangs.
“I appreciate the police for the crackdown on criminal activities by arresting gangs; however, it should not involve the arrest of innocent school-going children,” he added.
Yakani also urged law enforcement to uphold legal standards and human rights, warning against the mistreatment or torture of detainees.
As the crackdown continues, the debate intensifies over how to balance public safety with parental responsibility and the protection of youth rights.
What remains clear is that addressing gang violence in Juba will require not only police action but also deeper community engagement and accountability at home.
