New Year Celebrations In Yei Cancelled

This article was last updated on May 26, 2022

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Oba Cecilia Tito, the Mayor of Yei Municipality told Gurtong on phone that the leaders revised the decision to hold public celebrations at Yei Freedom Square due to the current clashes in Bor and Upper Nile State between the government and the forces loyal to the former Vice President Riek Machar.

Oba said it would be unfair for the people to rejoice while others are mourning the death of their loved ones, adding that any broken hearted person may be instigated by the celebration to take the law into his or her hands as Yei hosts almost all the tribes of South Sudan including those from Jonglei and Upper Nile states where the fighting is reported to be fierce and people should share the burden.

“If all are mourning, we should also join them in mourning,” said Oba.

Early this week, the leaders from the different ethnic tribes living in Yei had agreed with the Municipal authorities to hold the New Year’s celebration in the municipality and youth from all the different ethnic tribes living in Yei gathered at Yei Freedom Square after the New Year’s prayers to express their heartfelt joy for having crossed the shaky 2013 boat into the 2014.

The atmosphere at the Freedom Square showed people thirsty for peace, unity, forgiveness and reconciliation as the celebrants socialized and discussed the events unfolding in the country.

Gospel music lovers all gathered at Youth Garden and secular music funs made their way to the Mango Club as the last option.

The celebration in the county was successful and peaceful as no cases of human rights abuses, fight, and harassment were reported among the security personnel and the celebrants during the New Year celebrations.