Major General James Monday Enoka, Eastern Equatoria State Police Commissioner - Courtesy

Christmas and dawn Masses in the Eastern Equatoria and Western Bahr El Ghazal States were generally peaceful, authorities have said.

The Eastern Equatoria State Police Commissioner says the state peacefully celebrated Christmas without recording an incident.

Maj. Gen James Monday Enoka says their force will remain in their position to make sure that the citizen completes their festive celebrations in a very conducive environment.

He says they will continue to make sure that a conducive environment is provided till the end of the celebration of the new year.

“I can tell you that the celebration in eastern Equatoria is been very peaceful, and there has been nothing bad happened during the festive even up to now,” said Gen. James Monday.

“Our force is still in their location, we are still out there protecting people to ensure that they complete their celebration in a very peaceful and conducive environment,” he said.

“We have prepared ourselves to protect the people during the festive season, we hold to our word, we hold to our promise and we hold to our commitment, so today we are on day three after Christmas.”

General Enoka revealed that the state citizens appreciated the work of the police as they priest the government and organised forces.

“They were speaking themselves on the street during the celebration of Christmas day, they praised the organized forces they praised the government for having to provide adequate security and they enjoyed a free, secure and peaceful environment,” said Gen. Monday.

“They were expressing their appreciation of the work the government have done especially the security forces, they give their testimony, they do congratulate us wherever we move there,” he said.

“They are proud and we are also proud of them, and this is the confidence that we want the public to build on security force and to build on the government of the Republic of South Sudan”.

…meanwhile, authorities in Western Bahr El Ghazal say they have not recorded any criminal cases during Christmas celebrations, describing it as more peaceful even.

This is according to Samuel Nicola who is the state minister of information.

Samuel says the all markets in Wau town were operating up to midnight on date 24^th with free movement of people still buying their Christmas things.

He says the state security agencies have not recorded any single criminal-related case up to yesterday which makes this year’s Christmas celebration the most peaceful.

“Christmas was celebrated very well, yesterday and the first day of Xmass Eva on date 24^th at night people prayed, there was no incident recorded related to criminality,” Samuel told Eye Radio on Tuesday from Wau.

“It was the most peaceful celebration according to us in the state because nothing happened. People had all night moving up and down, the Jau market was operating up to 11 PM, shops were open you could buy your clothes even at night,” he said.

“It was well celebrated we appreciate all the security organs for the well done job”.

For his part, the Raja County Commissioner says the security plan has allowed the youth in the area to celebrate up until two o’clock in the morning.

Adisn Arkangelo says the entire county resident celebrated Christmas with full joy despite the absence of the salaries.

“Raja County has made a big celebration, secondly security situation is stable, so the youth have celebrated up to two or three in the morning, there was a party in every residential area,” said Arkangelo.

“All the citizens were happy not only within Raja town including those in the Payams and Bomas levels,” he said.

“They were happy and celebrating although the salaries did not reach the county but this is our country and is our south Sudan, we will be patient and everything will change God willing, so people in Raja have celebrated and they are happy. ”

The minister of information in Western Bahr El Ghazal State has attributed this peaceful celebration to a concrete security plan put in place by state authorities including the deployment of the forces and their commitment to their mandate.