Christmas festivities in the Jonglei State capital of Bor and its surrounding areas have transpired peacefully, with only minor incidents reported since December 24, as confirmed by activists and the police.
State Police Commissioner Maj. Gen. Elia Costa Faustino informed Radio Tamazuj on Friday that the celebrations in Bor Town and the nine counties have been devoid of major incidents, except for a regrettable incident on December 26. Two individuals lost their lives in separate incidents during a road ambush at the outskirts of Bor.
Commissioner Faustino credited the improved security to the cooperation of residents and called on them to maintain the same spirit during New Year celebrations. He emphasized adherence to the police ban on celebratory gunfire and the possession of weapons within the town.
“As we approach the New Year celebrations, the security forces remain vigilant. My hope is for the new year to bring peace and love to the people of Jonglei. I urge everyone to refrain from firing guns in the air during celebrations. Failure to comply will result in arrests by our forces,” he emphasized.
Providing a traffic update, Maj. Gen. Samuel Bidik, the state traffic police commissioner, reported that his forces have been on alert since December 22, and as of now, no traffic incidents have been reported within Bor and along the Juba-Bor Highway.
He commended commercial taxis for adhering to road safety rules and urged them to continue being law-abiding even after the holidays. Maj. Gen. Bidik stated, “We are celebrating Christmas peacefully. There have been no major incidents in Bor Town and all the nine counties during celebrations.”
In Uror, Machot Gatluak Kenyjak, the county commissioner, described this year’s Christmas as peaceful, noting, “We celebrated Christmas peacefully. There has been no attack across the county since Christmas. The only incident was on December 24, where a 24-year-old man was fatally attacked, and his gun was taken away by the assailants in Tiam payam.”
Isaiah Kuch, a resident of Bor and an activist with the Jonglei Civil Society Network (JCSN), praised the police for maintaining law and order during the festivities. He added, “Within Bor, the situation is calm except for villages where the situation remains tense. For instance, two people were killed on the way to Baidit. Generally, Christmas was peaceful.”
Kuch expressed deep regret over an observation, stating, “I noticed that some ladies were being targeted for wearing trousers. This is a violation of their rights, and if wearing trousers is deemed illegal, then a law must be passed on that matter.”
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