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At least 300 individuals have been released following a week-long crackdown on gangs in Juba, according to the South Sudan National Police Service.
The operation, which led to the arrest of over 700 suspected
gang members, is part of a broader effort to curb rising crime in the capital
city.
Maj. Gen. James Monday Enoka, police spokesperson, outlined
the reasoning behind the operation and the subsequent release of hundreds of
detainees.
“Those who are sick are released to their parents, those who
are also students, are released,” Enoka told The Radio Community (TRC) in an
interview on Monday.
“Those with adequate evidence of these bad behaviors are
then taken to the detention centers for reformation following other legal
procedures. Until yesterday there were about 300 released.”
The crackdown comes amid growing concern over violent gang activity,
which has involved weapons, drug use, and attacks on civilians.
“They attack people on the road, especially if you are
coming against their movement,” Enoka noted.
To carry out the operation, security forces were deployed
across five sectors in Juba, focusing on public areas rather than private
homes.
“It is the gangs, not the citizens as such. They don't go
and knock on doors and ask for boys to be brought out. The forces were doing
their normal operation on the road,” he explained.
The police say investigations and screenings are ongoing, with
further releases expected depending on individual circumstances.
Authorities emphasize the initiative is not only about
arrests, but also about justice and rehabilitation.
Last week, the Central Equatoria State government appealed
for development partners’ support after a 16-year-old girl was gang-raped in Juba’s
Shirikat area in June.
They urged help in rehabilitating and reintegrating affected
youth, stressing that law enforcement alone can’t resolve the deeper issues
behind gang violence.