The mayor of Torit has issued a local decree suspending nightlife until the security situation returns to normal.
The ban comes amid growing criminal activities in the
town, which the mayor says are terrorizing the citizens across the
municipality.
"The music is bringing all the gang groups from all
the corners of the town together. When they hear the music, they all come
together and create problems in the town," said Mustafa Albino Zacharia.
On May 26, 2024, gangs fought, leaving two dead.
Following a crackdown on juvenile gangs, authorities later arrested five
suspects linked to the deadly fracas in Juba, where they were hiding.
Albino claimed that the Torit police department will
shortly receive them for inquiry.
"Like the issue of last Sunday, which happened in
Club Africana, it was because of the party. If the party was not there, these
people would not gather."
In response, the entrepreneurs encouraged the local
government to instead increase security, a suggestion that the mayor rejected,
claiming that his administration cannot afford to support additional forces.
However, Gabriel Akuot, the proprietor of Abalwa Lodge in
Torit, feels that the restriction will have an impact on his business.
He claims that despite the ban on nightclubs, the gangs
would continue to intimidate the residents, and that the criminals attack
revelers on their way home rather than at the disco.
"If the government has power, it should increase its
forces at disco venues. In addition, they always attack residents, whether
discos are operational or not,” Akuot claimed.
In June of last year, the authorities arrested more than
80 juvenile criminals. However, the authorities released the majority of the
young offenders under unclear circumstances.
Residents linked them to a variety of nighttime crimes,
including robberies, burglaries, and adolescent gang fights, especially in the
Ifwanyak and Mairo neighborhoods.
Meanwhile, a civil society activist praised the
government's decision but advocated for the reactivation of community-policing
teams.
"We are not saying banning nightclubs can address
the entire issue of violent youth. We encourage the municipality to look beyond
that,” said Charles Okullu, executive director of the Peace Link Foundation.
“They also need to look at other factors; they need now
to activate the community policing team.”