South Sudan shuts down nightclubs for 'immoral acts'

"Jubek state government has banned all the night clubs, bars and night music shows in Juba city," a statement issued by the presidency said.

The governor of Jubek State, Augustino Jadalla Wani, said in a video posted on Facebook that while nightclubs would be shut, bars would have their hours limited to early evening, and would be forbidden from operating during the day.

"Discos we ban it totally because what is happening there is really very dangerous for the future of this country," he said, adding that girls as young as 13-years old frequented the clubs.

"We are serious and we are going to make sure discos are not working in this country."

Nightclubs are one of few options for young people seeking entertainment.

Wani also said the capital would oblige couples checking into hotels to produce a marriage certificate.

South Sudanese women are regularly arrested in raids on nightclubs, with the country's police commissioner saying such venues are not suitable for married women.

Police believe it unacceptable for married women to be "outside at night", even though some of the clubs only serve tea and not alcohol.

"Clubs are not places for women because women have other duties to attend to at home - like taking care of children," said police Commissioner John Akot Maluth after a raid in 2016.

"It is not good and not even in our culture that women and men watch movies together at night because lots of things may happen and this is what we don't want,” Maluth said.

South Sudan is in its sixth year of civil war, although most of the fighting has died down since a peace deal was struck in September.

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