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South Sudan to Launch Civilian Disarmament Campaign
Posted by Voice of America on Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 5:22 AM (PST)
By Derek Kilner
Nairobi
27 May 2009
The government of Southern Sudan is planning an ambitious campaign to disarm hundreds of civilians in the semi-autonomous region. Tribal clashes in parts of southern Sudan have killed as many as 1,000 people this year, a development that could threaten the fragile peace with the north.
Southern Sudan has long suffered from clashes between tribal groups over cattle and land. But according to the president of the semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir, the violence this year has been abnormally high. As many as 1,000 people have been killed since the start of the year in clashes between members of various tribes.
At an event marking the anniversary of the creation of the Sudan People's Liberation Army - the rebel group whose members now run the southern government - Mr. Kiir said the violence threatens the fragile 2005 peace agreement between north and south Sudan and he announced a campaign to disarm civilians throughout the southern region.
Such a campaign would need to target hundreds of thousands of people. Southern Sudanese officials have estimated that there are about two million small arms in the region. Previous disarmament efforts have seen clashes between soldiers and tribal groups reluctant to give up their weapons.
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