60 soldiers face court-martial over crimes against humanity

About 60 South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) soldiers from different ranks face court-martial over atrocities committed against civilians in the country.

According to the document seen by City Review, at least 60 soldiers have been arrested from different army headquarters in the country.

The document indicates that 19 of those arrested were from Renk town army headquarters of 1^st Infantry Division, 22 in Malakal town army headquarter of 2^nd Infantry Division, and 19 from eight Infantry Division and tenth infantry Division in Malual Chot army headquarter division in Jonglei.

When contacted for comments, the army Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang said that those arrested are under detention and they will be presented to court for trial.

“The suspects are in detention, they were suspected of committing major crimes for which SSPD was listed in the annexes of the Secretary General Annual report on children and armed conflict,” Lul stated.

In the document, there were five major violation among are sexual gender based violence (GBV) against woman, girls and boys recruitment of child soldiers, killing maiming, raping and abductions, crime against minors and hindering humanitarian access to different parts of the country.

Enforcing the rules

But according to Maj. Gen. Lul, the SSPDF is acting on own action plan that provides concrete specific and time bound commitment aimed at preventing and responding to sexual violence in a holistic manner through the five pillars.

He mentions the pillars, prevention, and accountability, protection of victim and witness judicial sectors, communication, monitoring and evaluation.

“Defense Force was acting on its own plan of action that provides key concrete specific and time bound commitment aimed at preventing and responding to sexual violence in a holistic manner through the five pillars.”

Earlier, the Directorate of Military Justice had established four military mobile court to play an important role in promoting truth and justice and fostering peace among soldiers in various military units in the areas and towns.

Lul said SSPDF Mobile General Court martial would deliver justice in 1^st, 2nd, 8th and 10^th infantry divisions respectively.

The military mobile courts are to complement criminal prosecutions, truth-telling, and reparations in promoting social healing in the country.