Authorities in Yei River County, Central Equatoria State, said all the organized armed forces in the area will join together to provide security during Christmas celebrations.

Silvano Ali, acting mayor of Yei town, told Radio Tamazuj that the SPLA-Juba, Wildlife, Police, Fire, and Prison services will work in concert across the town on the 24th and 25th.

Ali said the joint deployment will assure the civil populations that their government is ready to protect them wherever they choose to celebrate the holiday.

“This morning we were in the police organizing police to be moving into the all corners of town,” Ali added.

Ali said he ordered security forces to check people at the gates of churches in Yei to make sure no one enters with weapons.

He said prayers will start at seven in the evening and last until midnight, when people will go back to their residential areas.

Ali asked the people of Yei to enjoy themselves responsibly by avoiding drinking and to confine loud gatherings to private homes rather than roadsides.