The chairperson of the Islamic Council in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal commended authorities for maintaining “peace and security” in the area during Eid el Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) celebrations. Muslims across the country are said to be celebrating Eid in “joy and happiness in the new nation”.
“By God, God and the people have blessed the Feast of this year. There is happiness for Muslims of South Sudan for this feast this year. We do not face any problems regarding to the existence of Islam in this country”, said Chairman Kiir Chan Wol to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday.
Wol pointed out that although Muslims are not ‘hindered’ in South Sudan, their religion is not taught at schools in the country. However, he agreed with the Minister of Education to find teachers to instruct pupils who will eventually be given exams in “Islamic religion”, the chairman said.
“Our message is for us Muslims and Christians to hold on religion well and pray for security and stability in our state. We pray for the state government to deliver services such as health, schools and roads services,” Wol was quoted as saying.
The citizen Hamdan Deng Unguech, who is also celebrating Eid, said people are happy and enjoying the feast: “These days we are happy and we are eating meat and eating from every house we visit. This year is very good and we are happy with the government of Northern Bahr el Ghazal for taking care of us and for being kind to us in a way that will promote the state.”
Another source, Abdallah Deng, also praised the general environment in the state during Eid: “For a long time of about five to seven years I used to go and celebrate with my family in Khartoum but this is my first time to celebrate Eid el Adha here in Aweil and, thank God, the feast turned out to be very good. And we pray to God so that our country will develop.”
Photo: Muslim community celebrating Eid in Yei (Petia Suliman Loro/Gurtong.net)