South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
The South Sudan National Police service yesterday arrested four suspects in the alleged gang-rape of a girl in Shirikat after a video of the assault circulated online.
Maj. Gen. James Monday Enoka, police spokesperson, confirmed that the four suspects, out of eight involved in the rape, are now in police custody.
“The rape took place on 19th June around 5 pm. A 19-year-old girl was raped by eight suspected criminals at an unknown location in Shirikat Gumbo. They forcibly took her to an empty room and raped her there for several hours. After committing their crime, they released her. The girl returned home and did not report the incident to her parents. Unfortunately, on Wednesday, 25th June, one of the suspects released a video of the assault on social media,” Enoka told the Dawn yesterday.
He described the video as “very unfortunate and disturbing” and of great concern.
“People began to identify the girl, and after some investigation, her family was notified. The parents then opened a case at Gumbo Police Station,” he said.
Enoka added that the police launched a thorough investigation.
“The operation has been very successful, with four of the eight suspects arrested and now in police custody. They have confessed to their involvement in the offence alongside their colleagues who have not yet been apprehended.”
He stated that the police investigation is ongoing, and once it is completed, the suspects will be presented before the court of law to face justice.
He also revealed that the victim has been taken to the hospital to receive medical treatment.
The Centre for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) has strongly condemned the brutal gang rape of a young girl in the Shirikat area of Juba, an incident that has shocked the nation following the circulation of a disturbing video on social media.
The two-minute video, which surfaced on Facebook on Thursday, 19th June, appears to show a young woman being sexually assaulted by a group of men. According to the victim’s family, she was attacked by a gang known as the “Niggas” while returning from the market that evening.
In an official statement issued on Thursday, the CPA described the act as “brutal and inhumane” and called for urgent action from authorities.
“This horrifying incident reflects a deeply troubling rise in gender-based violence in our communities,” the statement read. “We urge law enforcement agencies and relevant authorities to immediately investigate this case and ensure that all perpetrators are arrested and held accountable in accordance with the law.”
The CPA also urged the Government of South Sudan to prioritise legislative reform and implement stronger protections for women and girls.
“We further urge the Government of South Sudan to enact and enforce comprehensive family protection laws that specifically address gender-based violence,” the CPA added. “The safety and dignity of women and girls must be protected at all costs.”
The CPA reaffirmed its solidarity with the victim and her family, pledging continued advocacy for justice and the protection of vulnerable individuals.
The attack has sparked outrage among the public and youth leaders in Juba, including activist Diko Isaac, who expressed his deep anguish over the video and its implications.
“This is not just a video; this is a crime, a nightmare, and a deep wound to our society,” Isaac said. “Despite how our community often judges victims for how they dress, behave, or live, let’s be very clear: she is a human, a daughter, a sister. No one deserves this pain.”
Diko called on the public and authorities to reject silence and take firm action.
“As a community, as brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers, we must stand up and speak out. Silence is not an option,” he said. “I strongly urge the authorities, law enforcement, community leaders, and every concerned citizen to ensure full justice for the victim. We need immediate arrests, strict punishment for the perpetrators, and real action against gender-based violence.”
A family member of the victim, who identified himself as Paul, confirmed the incident that occurred last Thursday.
“The incident happened last week, and the young girl reported it to the family. However, due to a lack of sufficient evidence, we reported it to the police. That is why the police were unable to take action until the video surfaced, allowing the CID to investigate and arrest the nine perpetrators,” he said.
