Khartoum-Juba-Malakal, 22 August 2006: A high level delegation from the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), headed by the Principal Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan,
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“Around 1250 weapons were handed-in by the community in this voluntarily disarmament programme” |
Mr. Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, together with senior representatives of the United Nations Country Team for Southern Sudan, attended a ceremony on 21 August in Akobo County, Jonglei State, to celebrate the successful completion of the recent community-driven voluntary disarmament exercise which took place during the period from 14 to 30 July 2006. Around 1250 weapons were handed-in by the community in this voluntarily disarmament programme.
The ceremony was also attended by high officials from the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) and the local authorities, including Mr. John Luck Gok, Minister of Sport, Youth and Culture of the GoSS and the Deputy Governor of the Jonglei State.
In his speech, the Minister of Sport, Youth and Culture expressed his appreciation of the UN and UNMIS support for the disarmament programme. He commended the people and county of Akobo for the success of the first voluntarily and peaceful disarmament exercise. He reiterated the GoSS commitment to exert all efforts in order to ensure that the disarmament programme is carried out peacefully out throughout Jonglei State. He indicated that the GOSS plans to integrate the disarmed youth in the civil society by providing them different employment opportunities. He announced that some of them could enroll in vocational training centres to be opened in Akobo town, and others could, if they chose , join the police or SPLA forces. (Read the full Press Release)
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