South Sudan’s Ministry of Interior has urged citizens to celebrate safely and warned against the dangers of celebratory gunfire.
South Sudan has cancelled its seventh Independence Day celebrations as it struggles to end the ongoing civil war. The independence anniversary falls on July 9 each year.
“We want to congratulate our people on the occasion of our 7th independence anniversary. But we want to tell our citizens and soldiers that we don’t want to hear any gunshots,” Michael Chiangjiek, minister of interior said on Saturday.
The government official said harsher penalties for reckless handling of a firearm, including celebratory gunfire will be implemented on the independence anniversary.
Police also banned vehicles with tinted windows. “From Sunday we not want to see a car with tinted windows on the streets,” he said.