By Samantha Netzband
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa
JUBA, South Sudan –Dozens of women have been sexually assaulted by government soldiers at a United Nations camp in South Sudan. The camp has over 30,000 displaced persons. Those attacked were Nuer women who had sought shelter from the continued fighting in South Sudan. Many have been injured and two women have died from their injuries.
Young girls at the UN Camp in Juba, South Sudan. (Photo Courtesy of the New York Times)
It is reported that many United Nations Peacekeepers witnessed the attacks and did nothing to stop them. Both the South Sudanese government and the United Nations did not deny the assaults that happened; and, Chantal Persaud, a spokesman for the United Nations in South Sudan, said there was at least one incident where United Nations Peacekeepers stood by and watched. South Sudanese soldiers were allowing the women to leave the camp to gather food and perform other tasks and then attacking the women when they returned to the camp. The rapes included gang rapes of underage women of more than 10 men each. The assaults may also be racially motivated many of the soldiers who are assaulting the Neur women are members of the Dinka ethnic group which is diametrically opposed of the Neur group.
The United Nations has now made a statement saying that if the United Nations Peacekeepers stood by and watched as the women were assaulted there will be severe consequences. United Nations Peacekeepers are deployed to protect civilians and are even allowed to use lethal force if necessary. The United Nations has increase security in the camp in order to prevent further attacks from happening.
For more information, please see:
All Africa – South Sudan: Report: Soldiers Raped Women Outside UN Camp – 28 July 2016
New Europe – Dozens Raped near UN Camp in South Sudan – 28 July 2016
