UN condemns sexual assaults on 125 women in South Sudan

THE UN yesterday condemned a wave of “brutal” sexual attacks on women and girls in the northern town of Bentiu in South Sudan.

On Friday, the aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said unknown gunmen had raped 125 women during a 10-day spree of violence in Bentiu, but local officials disputed the report.

South Sudan has suffered a wrenching five-year civil war and despite a fragile peace accord signed two months ago by the government and rebel groups remains riven with ethnic grievances and awash with weapons. Civilians from rival groups bear the brunt of the cycle of revenge.

The UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said approximately 125 women and girls had sought medical treatment after having been raped or sexually assaulted as they walked along roads on their way to Bentiu and that victims reported the attacks as having been carried out by young men in civilian clothing or military uniforms.

“The violent assaults happened in a government-controlled area,” said David Shearer, head of the UN mission. “UNMISS peacekeepers have sent patrols to the area and our human rights team has launched an investigation to identify the perpetrators.”

“The mission is also urging armed forces in the area to guarantee command and control over their troops to ensure rogue elements within their ranks are not involved in these criminal acts.”

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IN JUNE last year, this South Sudanese refugee said she was raped for several days by a group of soldiers. At the weekend, the aid group Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) reported that 125 women and girls were raped, whipped and clubbed in Bentiu, South Sudan, between November 19 and