Muslims across South Sudan gathered in mosques and open grounds Friday to mark the end of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitr celebrations.
Following the sighting of the crescent moon, thousands celebrated with prayers, new attire, and acts of charity, marking a time of spiritual renewal and communal harmony.
Families in Juba and other states gathered for special prayers and festive meals, signaling the conclusion of month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting.
Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi Akol called on those inciting discord among South Sudan’s tribes to stop their actions. Speaking to Muslims at Al-Zahra Square in Juba, he urged presidential hopefuls to wait for the upcoming elections and appealed to the community to avoid political conflict.
He stressed that disputes should be resolved peacefully. “If politicians have a problem, instead of going to fight, they should remain in the country and return to peace in a peaceful way,” Abdelbagi said.
He cited recent violence in parts of the country as evidence of the urgent need for peace. “Do you see what is happening in Upper Nile? Recently there is a lot of death in Bantiu. Thousands of people have died there. And also in Upper Nile, there is a lot of death. Politicians are inciting citizens against the government. This is unacceptable. We all have to support peace, especially the Muslim community,” he added.
Abdelbagi also called on the Muslim community to support the general elections scheduled for December.
Sheikh Abdullah Baraj, secretary general of the South Sudan Islamic Council, urged the government to maintain stability and engage in inclusive dialogue to secure lasting peace.
“We, as a Muslim community, stand with the people so that all its members can participate in choosing their leaders in the upcoming elections,” he said.
Eid al-Fitr is one of the most sacred occasions on the Islamic calendar. The celebration begins with a special congregational prayer, typically held in open grounds or mosques in towns and rural areas alike, followed by a sermon reflecting on obedience, sacrifice, and compassion.
Muslims make up a small minority of South Sudan’s population, accounting for an estimated 6% of the country’s roughly 12 million people, according to demographic and religious studies.