Deputy Speaker calls for action on arms flow following Abiemnhom incident

2026-03-22 - 14:54

The First Deputy Speaker of the Council of States, Mary Ayen Majok, has called for a national investigation into the supply of weapons to youth following the death of more than 200 people in Abiemnhom. Speaking on Saturday, March 21, at Medan Simba during funeral prayers for the victims of the March 1st incident, Hon Ayen stated that the violence claimed the lives of government officials, soldiers, and civilians. She noted that such incidents recur because of a lack of accountability. The Deputy Speaker described current public discussions on insecurity as ineffective. “I believe most of the talk we have here about this problem is for media consumption, and we won’t achieve any progress on the ground,” Hon Ayen stated. “Such incidents have happened many times before, and no one has been held accountable.” She urged leaders to identify the sources of illegal weapons within communities rather than focusing on media attention. “This can be achieved by talking to our youth about where they get their weapons,” Ayen said. “There are those who supply them with weapons, and we need to find out who is arming them. We must be serious about this if we want to have a state, because we are not representing dead citizens, but living citizens.” Hon. Ayen discouraged communities from engaging in revenge killings, emphasizing that violence between neighbors undermines national stability. She appealed to the Vice President [Taban] and other national leaders to prioritize peacebuilding and engage youth in addressing the root causes of conflict. The Deputy Speaker also raised concerns regarding the lack of clarity over regional boundaries. She stated that disputes among leaders regarding these borders continue to create tensions and injustice for local communities, including the elderly. Hon. Ayen emphasized that governance must focus on protecting the living and ensuring stability through clear policy and responsible leadership.