By Okech Francis
JUBA
South Sudan has beefed up security, especially in capital Juba, with the approach of the Christmas holidays.
Christmas is celebrated by many people of South Sudan, which continues to groan under a year-long political conflict.
"We have prepared [security] forces for the Christmas period. They will remain on patrol until January 30," Andrew Kuol, deputy inspector-general of the National Police Service, told reporters on Friday at the Giada barracks, the headquarters of the South Sudanese army's infantry division.
He said that security forces had been drawn from the National Police Service, the Sudan People's Liberation Army, and the national security services, along with the wildlife authority, the fire brigade and the prison service.
"They will operate in all locations in and around the city," Kuol said.
He also called on security personnel, however, to refrain from making any unwarranted arrests.
"These forces should not arrest any civilians," said the police official. "Civilians can go about their normal business."
He stressed that police were there to protect civilians so the latter might enjoy the Christmas and New Year holidays, adding that searches for firearms would be carried out in Juba over the next few days.
Kuol said house-to-house searches would be conducted with the aim of finding guns, adding that his troops would seize any firearms discovered during the operation.
"Such people [who have guns in their homes] are the ones causing insecurity in Juba," Kuol said.
Yet despite the planned security deployments, fear continues to haunt Juba residents one year after the country fell into chaos following an alleged coup attempt against the government of President Salva Kiir.
In December of last year, thousands were killed in clashes between government troops and rebel forces, while hundreds of thousands either fled to neighboring countries or sought refuge at local UN refugee camps.
"We are ready for anything. What happened on December 15 [of last year, the date of the alleged coup attempt] will not happen again," Maj. Gen. Marial Chanuong, commander of South Sudan's presidential guard brigade, told reporters.
"We have four sectors that will take care of security in all parts of Juba," he added.
Chanuong, who is expected to lead the joint security operation in the capital, said that around 4,000 troops would be deployed starting Friday.
He said government buildings, courts, UN offices and diplomatic missions would be afforded police protection.
"Security personnel are not allowed to confiscate any personal items except unlicensed firearms, ammunition, explosives and unauthorized military uniforms," Chanuong said.
He added that dignitaries, VIPs and government officials were required to declare any weapons in their possession.
Chanuong said that any resistance to disarmament efforts would be reported, while anyone who posed a threat during the operation would be dealt with "with appropriate force."
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