Guns left over from the civil war in Southern Sudan are inflicting a terrible cost on an isolated tribe of cattle farmers, according to an article published in the Independent newspaper (UK) on 6 April.
The article reports that there are some 25 gun murders every year among the Mandari cattle farmers living north of Juba (capital of Southern Sudan). The traditional skirmishes between the Mandari and their rivals in other tribes have become much more dangerous, due to the ready availability of small arms, especially the AK-47 assault rifle.
The farmers received the weapons during the long-running war in Southern Sudan, when they became one of many militias recruited by warring factions. There is currently a fragile peace in the area, but the guns will remain deadly long after the war has ended.
IANSA member organisations are working to stop the flood of guns that ruins lives and undermines development. At the 2006 UN Review Conference at the UN in June, IANSA members will be campaigning for tough measures to reduce both the supply and demand for guns, and increased resources to remove the weapons already in circulation. |
