William Dechak, newly appointed Commissioner of Gogrial East County (Warrap State), has issued an executive order banning all forms of gambling and dominoes within the jurisdiction.
The directive, effective immediately, mandates that violators will be conscripted into labor teams to produce bricks for public infrastructure projects.
Commissioner Dechak stated that the prohibition aims to eliminate idleness during working hours and redirect young individuals participation toward economic productivity.
In a statement reported by Sudans Post, Dechak emphasized that the administration would no longer tolerate leisure activities that conflict with professional or domestic responsibilities.
“I have made it crystal clear that nobody should be seen playing dominoes when he is supposed to be doing something productive for himself or his family,” Dechak said.
Penalties and Enforcement
The executive order specifies that individuals apprehended while violating the ban will not face traditional fines or incarceration. Instead, offenders will be transported to riverbanks to join brick-making units. The bricks produced by this penal labor will be utilized for county development and construction initiatives.
Community Response
The directive has elicited a polarized response from residents in Warrap State.
- Support: Local elders and community members, like Deng Gabriel, have endorsed the measure, citing a need to reduce conflicts stemming from gambling losses and to ensure young men fulfill their cattle-herding duties.
- Opposition: Unnamed youth representatives expressed concern that the ban removes a source of income, warning that the sudden deprivation of earnings could inadvertently increase property crime.
Dechak, who assumed office earlier this week, framed the policy as a necessary step to stabilize the county’s social fabric and foster development.
Source: Sudans Post: Gogrial East Commissioner bans gambling, warns of tough penalties
