The Minister of Environment has banned smoking cigarettes and Shisha in public places.

Minister Deng Deng Hoc in a ministerial order, says the order is to maintain a healthy environment for the public in the whole country.

He says this order is effective as from this month. The minister warned that any violation of the order will be considered a criminal offence, and violators will pay a fine of 500 South Sudanese Pounds.

The order defined public places as airports, sea ports, hotels, restaurants, cinema, theater, football stadium, Bus Park, public transport and other places where people gather in large numbers.