Christmas and New Year Season are festivals that promote love, peace, and being together with loved ones, such as family members, friends, lovers, and neighbours, and being happy throughout the festive season in Christians’ lives worldwide.
First of all, I would like to thank the government of South Sudan for the security provided during the festive season. The collection of guns from civilian hands made a good move towards the Christmas and New Year season. Citizens were able to celebrate until morning without fear and also the soldiers were on duty until morning hours which interprets peace in the country. Up to today there have been no cases of gunshots yet in the city except in the States.
The government is trying to understand how it can bring peace to people in a nonviolent way, and if disarmament continues in the other counties or states, it will be important to the people of South Sudan because in some states there were cases of killing still ongoing.
The search for guns during the festive season degenerated into widespread harassment of civilians by military officers conducting roadblocks. This behavior, including the forceful seizure of possessions like money and phones, instilled fear and disrupted the holiday celebrations, leading residents to view the army as a source of insecurity rather than a guarantor of safety.
Such actions not only violate the public’s trust but also tarnish the image of the armed forces. To prevent further incidents, the commanders of the security battalion, the Minister of Interior, and the Minister of Defense should be held accountable and ordered to investigate these abuses.
A joint operation demands strict adherence to protocols and respect for civilian rights, ensuring that the army fulfils its duty to protect and serve the nation.”
For the remaining states and counties and Bomas to be calm, disarmament needed to be done. The government should be ready for professional, well-behaved soldiers so that citizens won’t face what happened last year, and soldiers should learn how to ask politely so that faithful hearts would be able to give them.
The collection of guns should continue so that people remain in peace and to silence all the killings and abductions of young youths, children, and women in the other states.
I appeal to the government of South Sudan to continue providing lasting security to the country and disarming the whole country for peace purposes. I’m also welcoming everyone back from the holiday. This country needs cooperation.
God Bless South Sudan
Be right there!