Bentiu IDP camp police bans alcohol to curb violence

BENTIU – In a bid to maintain peace during the ongoing Christmas festivities, the joint police forces in Bentiu’s Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp have imposed a temporary ban on traditional alcohol distillation.

The ban, which took effect on January 1, 2024, and will run until January 15, aims to curb internal fighting among youth groups often fueled by locally distilled alcohol.

“The purpose of banning alcohol distillation in Bentiu IDP camp is to reduce crimes and internal fighting among the different youth groups, some youths drink this locally distilled alcohol and later create fighting and stabbing innocent people who wanted to celebrate Christmas in peace and happiness,” Col. James Tut Chuol, camp joint police commander, told Sudans Post yesterday.

Col. Chuol further explained that groups of these self-proclaimed gangs engage in violence and group fights directly linked to alcohol consumption.

“We have banned the traditional alcohol distillations until January 15, 2024, to limit crimes and internal fighting in the camp. Anyone who violates this order will be arrested and considered as an instigator,” he declared, placing the onus on distillers to comply.

Commander Chuol believes the ban will help mitigate conflict and gang violence.

“The main cause of local gangs’ fights was alcohol, we haven’t stopped businesses from selling official alcohol, but we’ve banned the locally distilled one because it’s more affordable for these young people,” he emphasized.

However, the ban raises concerns for some women who rely on alcohol distillation as their sole source of income to pay school fees and development funds for their children, especially in the absence of adequate humanitarian education support.