South Sudan, already one of the most difficult countries for women, has in recent years seen some of the highest levels of sexual violence in the world.
Even before the civil war officially ended in September 2018, women and girls experienced high levels of gender-based violence (GBV) and had limited ways to address these crimes. Women and Girls face violence despite the Peace Deal.
Once civil war, fueled by ethnic divisions, engulfed the country in 2013, violence against women and girls grew even more pronounced. From 2013 until the end of 2018, soldiers on both sides of the conflict used sexual violence and torture, especially of women and girls, as part of their military strategies. Furthermore, a complete breakdown of the rule of law permitted armed men to operate with impunity throughout the conflict.
And such kinds of issues are practised by both sides, especially what happened in 2013 crisis in Bor was really terrible, where even in the church, there was no mercy from the soldiers of either side. Women and young girls were going through a lot of suffering, rapping, killing, and so many hurting issues, which is really not good for this country. In 2016, conflicts where in the Jebel market area many girls were rapped to dead in Yei; some were burned with wood and died. In any violence in South Sudan, whether political violence, Cattle riding, or tribal violence, it can’t be missed that women are left untouched by the cattle riding in Mawgi, women are taken as the source of violence. In Leer county of Unity state, a 15-year-old girl was used by a soldier in 2022 it is a very bad act in the country and it is still ongoing. This looked facilitated by the warring politician.
In 2021 there were SSPDF soldiers who were brought from year about 21 of them assembled in Bilpham the headquarters of the SSPDF and were sentence to prison some 7 years, 5years and 4 years that time the orders were very clear that they were to be removed from the Army to serve their terms and go home. It is a surprise that some of them were still seen around their villages, even here in the town, because the law is never enforced in the country.
If you look at this country, most women and young girls are the ones suffering from savior trauma that will be unhealed, and they become unhealthy, affected by HIV, others can’t give birth and some of them die on the spot. Just because of this continues crisis in the country.
Although most political violence abated when the most recent peace agreement was signed in September 2018, conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) has persisted. Armed men, some affiliated with various military groups, continue to attack women and girls who are travelling. Additionally, widespread displacement exacerbates other risks to the safety of women and girls, including intimate partner violence and underage pregnancy.
I appeal to the government and the Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Gender, Social Welfare to take gender violence issues seriously for the upcoming generations, and the perpetrators to be held accountable for causing such incidents. The county needs peace, not conflicts.
God Bless South Sudan.
Be right there!