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Since it was formed in October 2010, MAG’s Small Arms and Light Weapons
Team in South Sudan has removed 250,000 items of SALW and
unexploded ordnance. |
MAG’s Small Arms and Light Weapons Team in South Sudan has located and demolished a stockpile of more than 67,000 dangerous items on the border with northern Uganda.
After 40 years of civil war, South Sudan is littered with small arms and light weapons (SALW) and other items of unexploded ordnance (UXO).
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The stockpile included these 22 MANPADS (Man-portable air defence systems), 19 SAM-7 and three HN-5. [Photo: MAG South Sudan] |
As well as threatening the lives and limbs of vulnerable communities, this contamination impedes rural and economic development.
In addition, the threat of accidental explosion or illicit proliferation from weapons caches undermines the peace and future stability within the region.
Since it was formed in October 2010, MAG’s Small Arms and Light Weapons Team in South Sudan has removed around 250,000 items of SALW and UXO.
In May, the team located a stockpile of 67,017 dangerous items in the town of Nimule in Eastern Equatoria.
The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the SPLA fought heavily during the protracted conflict in this area.
The stockpile is located in what was originally an SAF ammunition store – a simple warehouse composed of corrugated iron sheets, approximately 1,200m2 in size [see photo below] – but which came under SPLA control when the SAF left the area.
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MAG’s SALW Team in South Sudan has two aims: (1) To locate and dispose of stockpiles of SALW and UXO after approval is received from the SPLA. (2) To build the capacity of staff seconded from the SPLA, ensuring that a qualified pool of Sudanese personnel with solid skills and experience is available in South Sudan after the departure of international agencies in future years. |
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Weapons destroyed included:
• 2,169 mortars
• 5,231 projectiles
• 1,099 rocket-propelled grenades
• 58,136
rounds of Small Arms Ammunition
• 71 landmines
• 22 MANPADS
• three MILAN anti-tank guided missiles – an interesting find, as
such sophisticated weaponry is not normally found in South Sudan
• 286 other Explosive Remnants of War.
MAG's SALW Team in South Sudan is funded by the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, US Department of State.
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This simple corrugated iron warehouse held more than 9,000 dangerous items, including mortars, projectiles, rocket-propelled grenades, small arms ammunition rounds and landmines. The SPLA Logistics Corps staff member seconded to MAG was initially informed about this stockpile by the SPLA. [Photo: MAG South Sudan] |
Background to the problem
Sudan is suffering from the effects of the longest civil war in Africa. During the 1955-72 and 1983-2005 conflicts, both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the SPLA claimed and reclaimed different cities and areas of land.
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Three MILAN anti-tank missiles (above) were amongst the weaponry found. [Photo: MAG South Sudan] |
Weapons caches were created in garrison towns and in locations ideal for restocking the armies.
Consequently, many locations along these former frontlines in South Sudan are littered with caches of munitions, plus unsecured stockpiles of SALW and other items of UXO.
After the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in January 2005, the opportunity arose for those displaced by the conflict to return to their place of origin and for all Sudanese people to rebuild their lives.
However, the presence of these conventional weapons is preventing the safe return of thousands of people, threatening lives and hindering economic development. Their removal encourages the return of people and supports the country’s long-term peace and stability.
• Reporting by Michelle Healy, Programme Officer, MAG South Sudan
1 July 2011 [updated 5 July 2011]
See also:
Why does MAG work in Sudan?
More news and case studies from MAG Sudan
Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement website
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