Authorities in Bor County, Jonglei State, have issued a firm warning to the commander of the Red Belt vigilante group, Leek Mamer Leek, threatening to pursue him if he does not surrender voluntarily amid heightened security operations.
The warning came during a press briefing on Sunday following a consultative meeting that brought together Bor County leaders, MPs, youth and women representatives, traditional chiefs, and local administrators. The meeting focused on ending violence and reaffirming government authority in Bor and neighboring areas.
Bor County Commissioner Ateny Pech stressed that local leadership is fully aligned with the government and will not tolerate armed groups acting outside state control. He dismissed claims that the community is sheltering Leek.
“We, the people of Bor County, do not support Leek,” Ateny said. “We stand with the Government of South Sudan and will never support him if he is fighting the government—unless it is against an enemy of Bor County.”
Ateny noted that traditional leaders from Leek’s home area have been tasked with persuading him to surrender peacefully. He warned that failure to comply would leave the authorities with no choice but to hunt him down.
“The mandate at the county level is clear: we are speaking to the people so that Leek is handed over to the government. If that fails, the government will take action itself,” Ateny said, adding that current operations aim to restore law and order and protect civilians, not target communities. Responding to criticism over the use of heavy weaponry, he said decisions on military tactics are determined at the state level.
Traditional leaders called for unity and restraint. Gordon Anoon Akol, head chief of Baidit and deputy paramount chief of Bor County, noted that divisions over the Red Belt have heightened tensions. He suggested the group be referred to as “Gel Bai” (community protector) to reduce fear, linking recent unrest to the presence of its leader in Bor town.
Youth leaders, however, criticized the government’s handling of security. Bor youth leader Mawut Peter Awan argued that lapses in state protection have driven some young people to arm themselves. “If the government fully takes responsibility, the youth will surrender their guns voluntarily,” he said, urging armed youth to disarm if community support is withdrawn.
Leek Mamer Leek, also known as “90 Bullets,” has defended the Red Belt as a protective force for the Dinka Bor community amid ongoing insecurity. The group came into the spotlight earlier this year following attacks, including one on government troops in September, after which the national army classified it as a rebel group—a label Leek rejects.
Last week, two people, including the Red Belt deputy commander and a national security officer, were killed during a security operation at a hotel in Bor town, triggering hours of unrest and gunfire.
Human rights activist Ter Manyang Gatwech welcomed the local authorities’ push for dialogue, stating, “Dialogue is the best way to resolve conflict in modern society,” and called for negotiations to address the Red Belt movement’s concerns.
