September 6th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan government said on Wednesday that it will announce a court verdict against SPLA soldiers accused of rape during the 2016 clashes in the capital Juba.
In July 2016, South Sudan government troops loyal President Salva Kiir Mayardiit broke into Teran Hotel in the capital Juba and raped and killed several aid workers.
The incident sparked a world-wide condemnation against South Sudan by world powers including South Sudan’s largest aid providers like the United States, Britain among other countries.
The SPLA deputy spokesman said Wednesday that the verdict will announced today, Thursday against perpetrators and the hearing will be attended by South Sudan’s diplomatic community as well as experts and observers.
Santo, the SPLA deputy spokesman said the punitive measures due to be announced against rape victim is because the rape and killing of innocent civilians is not a part of the SPLA doctrine.
“This is important because the army has been accused of a great deal of rape, sexual harassment and all forms of violations and it’s not part of our doctrine,” he said.
The hotel Manager Manager, Mike Woodward, is hopeful and says he has been reimbursed for the loss but the verdict will serve as an example and discouraged other soldiers from committing similar crimes in the future.
“Every single soldier on trial has been identified by at least one if not multiple victims or witnesses. As with any normal legal process we hope that we will be compensated for our losses, that the criminals be punished and that an example is set to discourage others from committing similar crimes in the future,” said Woodward.
One of the survivors told the Associated Press that she has been waiting for the last two years to see this verdict happened.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for two years, where I’ve felt so alone during this time,” she said pointing out that “I really hope this fight will be for something positive. And that this will set a precedent for other crimes and for other women who are abused and who don’t have a voice.”
