South Sudan security trained to combat illegal arms

November 27, 2013 (JUBA) - The United Nations Mission in South Sudan, through it disarmament, demobilization and reintegration work is providing intensive training to the South Sudan security services in order to create a national Bureau for Community Security and Small Arms Control.

Recruits for the Southern Sudan Police Service (SSPS) perform a training exercise at their academy in Rajaf, South Sudan, 7 October 2010 (UN)

A composite group from South Sudan’s army (SPLA), the South Sudanese Police Service, National Security, Wildlife and Prison Services have participated in an intensive 12-day training funded by the UNMISS under the guidance of experts from international companies who specialise in marking and tracking the flow of weapons.

Andre Jordaan, an international expert said in a statement that: "The trainees will be taught the skills to set-up, operate, and maintain the marking and registration kits that have been purchased for South Sudan. The training also teaches the students the legal background to small arms control, weapons identification, and safe weapons handling procedures."

Participant Martin Hakim David, Second Lieutenant, SPLA said he was "very proud" to be "chosen by the SPLA Directorate for Logistics to participate in the Weapons Marking Training, as this project is really important for the government weapons control in the country. This training contains all the knowledge I need to be a weapons marking operator and bring positive results in my unit."

In 2011 the government signed the Nairobi Protocol which committed the country to work on the tracking and control of small arms. The aim of the protocol is to improve regional security, reduce violence in communities and promote conditions for social and economic development.

According to Major General Marshal Stephen Babanen, SPLA Director of Logistics; "Weapons marking is one of the most important projects for the SPLA. Control of small arms in South Sudan is a significant problem; proper control and management of government weapons will help reduce crime and increase the security of our people. As well as marking weapons, the SPLA is focusing on training staff in safe weapons storage and stockpile management, and is seeking to build more secure storage for the army’s weapons in 2014."

After extensive consultations with a number of organisations working on small arms regulation and control, at the request of the government in February 2012, UNMISS procured ten mobile weapons marking kits and is planning to train 50 government staff as operators.

Klem Ryan, who works for UNMISS’s disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme said he is "very pleased to be working with the government on this important project for South Sudan.

"The marking and tracking of firearms is a vital step in improving security for the citizens of South Sudan as it enables the government to better monitor and control government small arms, while increasing the accountability of the uniformed services”, he said.

The weapons marking machines are valued at $45,000 each. To date, in combination with the training, UNMISS has spent more than $500,000 on the tracking project, including a weapons marking research trip to South Africa in July this year.

Since it began in 2012, the UN says that the weapons marking project has, made considerable progress in raising awareness on the importance of the establishment of a record system and effective tracking and registration for government weapons.

The mission also claims that the project has led to a broad consensus on weapons marking processes from the South Sudanese government and armed forces in South Sudan.

The successful implementation of the training and initial marking phase is critical, the UN says, to maintain momentum on gun control.

In 2014 the government, with the support of UNMISS, will work to implement a national weapons marking campaign of all government held small arms.

(ST)