By Yiep Joseph
To ensure a peaceful celebration of New Year 2025, South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has warned the public and security forces to refrain from celebratory gunfire.
Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Paul Nang Majok said that those who disregard this warning will face severe penalties.
, Gen. Paul stated during final briefing of a joint security forces assigned to maintain public safety during the New Year celebrations that violators would face strict repercussions, including imprisonment.
“No random shooting or celebratory shooting during the new year; those who will be shooting in the area should be arrested,” Nang said.
“I wanted to tell everyone from 31st December to 1st January, leave your gun either in the house or in the stores; do not move with it,” he added.
He ordered the inspector general of police to closely monitor the violators, stating that they should be arrested and handed over to the joint operation.
“I want to tell the IGP that any person arrested for involvement in a celebratory shooting, even if a civilian reports them to those of operation, we will take them..,” he said.
“I will tell the commander to deploy such people in the front without guns so that they will test how it looks like,” he added.
He advised the members of the public as well as organized forces not on duty to keep their weapons either in the stores or houses.
The CDF directed the joint security forces to disarm individuals found carrying weapons, noting that such individuals had engaged in random shooting while under the influence of alcohol or excitement.
“Those who move with their guns are they one when they are drunk, they start to shoot anyhow during the New Year celebration,” he said.
“Anyone you get on the road and is not part of deployment and not working with you, take the gun from him or her; his/her gun is supposed to be in the store,” he added.
The Chief of Defense Forces urged the Joint Operation to remain disciplined during the new year celebration.
He added that their role is to remain in uniform and protect the citizens and their property.
On his part, Gen. Abraham Peter Manyuat, Inspector General of Police (IGP), reiterated the need for the public to shun celebratory shootings.
He advised the joint operation to arrest those involved and detained their weapon.
“We know there are some in organized forces that are not part of deployment, but they will be in their houses, and later, when one is drunk, they will be shooting anyhow that one must stop,” Manyuat said.
“When you get anyone in his home or on the road, the first thing to do is arrest him, take the gun, and take him to his division, and later his/her gun should not be given back,” he added.
He added that random shootings remain dangerous to the civil population, and hence there is no need for random shootings.
“If that bullet of celebratory shooting falls on a pregnant mother or child, it will be another problem, and therefore there is no need to shoot, and anyone involved will be punished,” he said.
He called on the citizens to work together with the security forces and report cases related to crimes.
Gen. Manyuat called on the Joint Operation to stick to its mandate of protecting the public and their property.
Last week, the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) deployed a huge number of Joint Security Forces to safeguard the public and their property during Christmas as well as the New Year celebration.