Four South Sudan soldiers arrested over village rape spree

South Sudanese refugees in Al-Eligat along the border in Sudan's White Nile state on February 27, 2017. Four South Sudan soldiers went on a rampage, raping and torturing women and girls. FILE PHOTO | ASHRAF SHAZLY | AFP

What you need to know:

  • Local media reported the soldiers had gone on a rampage, raping and torturing at least 11 women, including a 13-year-old girl.
  • One of those detained is the commander of the men accused of carrying out the sexual assaults, and will not himself face rape charges.
  • Rebels have perpetrated similar crimes.

JUBA

Four South Sudanese soldiers have been arrested over the mass rape of about a dozen women and girls in one village last month, the army spokesman said Friday.

The incident took place in Kubi some 40 kilometres south of Juba as soldiers raided the village looking for suspects in the killing of an army general by unidentified gunmen.

Local media reported the soldiers had gone on a rampage, raping and torturing at least 11 women, including a 13-year-old girl.

SEXUAL ASSAULTS

"Investigations were carried out and four SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) officers were arrested," said spokesman Brigadier General Lul Ruai Koang.

One of those detained is the commander of the men accused of carrying out the sexual assaults, and will not himself face rape charges.

Another suspect had been arrested but managed to escape from a detention facility.

Koang said that the three accused of rape had been identified by the victims in a line-up and later confessed.

MISLED BY SATAN

In their defence one soldier claimed to have been misled by Satan, while the others argued they were drunk.

"Let our people rest assured that SPLA will keep on doing its best to ensure that rogue soldiers are punished for crimes they commit," Koang said.

President Salva Kiir's troops and allied militia have been accused of ethnic massacres, rape and sexual slavery, looting, pillage and the forced recruitment of child soldiers in the country's three-year long civil war.

Rebels have perpetrated similar crimes.

SOUTH SUDAN CRISIS

The conflict broke out in 2013 after Kiir accused his rival and former deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup against him.

A brief peace deal was left in tatters when fierce battles erupted in Juba in July last year.

The army announced in October it had arrested and convicted some 80 soldiers accused of looting and murder in the capital during the outbreak of fighting.

However none have been held for the widespread rape of locals and several Western aid workers.