South Sudan’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Paul Nang Majok, has ordered the immediate integration of the Red Belt Militia operating in Bor County into the national army, warning that those who resist will face forcible disarmament.
In a directive issued on Sunday through military spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, the army chief described the order as part of ongoing efforts to consolidate peace and strengthen national security across the country.
“This is a golden opportunity and an honor to serve,” the statement read. “Those who refuse to integrate will face forcible disarmament at the earliest time possible.”
The Red Belt Militia, which surfaced in Bor, Jonglei State, earlier this year, has been accused by authorities of engaging in criminal activities, including an ambush on the Minister of Wildlife in February.
The group, however, insists it operates as a vigilante force defending local communities from external attacks.
State officials recently designated the militia as an illegal armed organization, citing growing security concerns following sightings of its members in military-style uniforms and carrying automatic weapons in public.
The military’s order demands that the fighters and their weapons be registered and integrated into the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), as part of efforts to curb unauthorized armed groups.
Gen. Nang’s order is part of a broader nationwide campaign that also targets armed youth in Warrap State and forces aligned with the SPLA-In Opposition (SPLA-IO).
The SSPDF has given the Warrap militias a 21-day deadline to voluntarily surrender their weapons, while SPLA-IO combatants are directed to report to SSPDF barracks in preparation for long-delayed unification under the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement.
The statement warned that any group or force refusing to comply would be treated as “hostile elements”.
SPLM-IO Hits Back
The orders quickly drew a fierce response from the SPLM-IO, which denounced the move as unlawful and politically motivated.
“The SPLA-IO read with dismay a statement by the SSPDF spokesperson falsely asserting that Gen. Paul Nang has powers over the SPLA-IO,” said Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, the SPLA-IO spokesperson. “This is not only a false claim but a dream that will never come true.”
Lam said the opposition force remains under the command of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, adding that Gen. Nang should “focus on his tribal politics within the SSPDF and avoid crossing a line above his level.”
He urged SPLA-IO forces to ignore the directive and remain focused on “the liberation struggle to bring genuine peace to the suffering people of South Sudan.”
