12 December 2014 - UNMISS and the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) today destroyed weapons and ammunition recovered from civilians seeking refuge in the UNMISS base in Malakal, Upper Nile State.

The destruction of ammunition was conducted by UNMAS in a controlled detonation site about six kilometres from the mission’s compound. The UNMISS Indian battalion destroyed the accumulated weapons in the UNMISS Malakal base.

Some 134 weapons and 10,500 rounds of ammunition of ammunition were demolished in the exercise. A majority (108) of the confiscated weapons were AK 47/56 rifles. There were also pistols, ancillaries and a large number of machetes, knives, and other objects.

Upper Nile Governor Simon Kun Pouch applauded UNMISS’ decision to destroy the recovered ammunition and weapons and urged IDPs to respect UN compounds.

“This is a very wise decision because it is a reminder to everyone not to bring arms and other dangerous weapons into UN compounds”, he said. “UNMISS compounds are safe havens for civilians who feel threatened, and I am warning those causing havoc within these compounds to desist doing so or risk to face the full force of the law”.

He said his government would continue to work hand-in-hand with UNMISS to ensure the safety of IDPs. “We will continue to work tirelessly with UNMISS to ensure that the IDPs are well protected and also to ensure the safety of civilians who are not in the UN compounds.”

UNMISS State Coordinator Deborah Schein told the gathering that all recovered weapons were accounted for and being destroyed in the exercise.

She refuted rumours of UNMISS handing over weapons to any of the warring parties. “This exercise today demonstrates the impartiality of UNMISS, because we can assure you that we have records of all the weapons that we have recovered and we kept them safely,” said Ms. Schein.

The destroyed ammunition and weapons were recovered from those seeking protection at the UNMISS base when conflict broke out in Malakal in December 2013, or during routine search operations at protection sites.

The weapons destruction was also witnessed by South Sudan National Police Service Commissioner Major General Chol Thuc Chol, SPLA Sector 2 Chief of Operations Colonel Paul Madeng, UNMISS Sector North Commander Brig. Gen. Bayarsaikhan Dashdondog, Indian battalion commanding officers, Rwandan and Ethiopian soldiers, representatives of the Inter-governmental Authority on Development, the IDP Peace and Security Council and UNMISS uniformed as well as civilian personnel.

A similar exercise will take place early this week in Nasir County.