New reports released this week document the widespread and systematic use of sexual violence during South Sudan’s government’s southern Unity offensive, including the use of “rape camps” holding hundreds of women.
At least 1000 civilans were killed, 1300 women and girls raped, and 1600 people abducted during the campaign which began in late April in Leer, Mayendit, and Koch counties, according to situation update covering April to September compiled by aid groups working in civilian protection.
Two further reports, published in the British newspaper the Guardian and French wire service Agence France-Presse, describe witness testimonies of South Sudanese women held as sex slaves by soldiers during this campaign.
“One woman was abducted by soldiers and taken to a military camp, tied up and raped repeatedly for two months. Another was kidnapped with her 15-year-old sister and raped every night for five nights. A third was taken to a forest with her 12-year old daughter where both were raped,” AFP reported.
Women as payment to soldiers
A woman called Nyabena to protect her identity said she was forced to work during the day as a porter or in fields, and then tied up and raped at night, commonly by four men.
“When one of the soldiers wanted to have sex he would come, untie us and take us away. When they were finished they would bring you back and tie you to the post again,” she told AFP.
Women who refused to work or fought against their rape would disappear, including ten out of the 40 she was with, Nyabena said. Girls as young as 12 were raped.
According to a military expert in Unity state speaking to the Guardian, the women were payment for Bul and Jikany Nuer fighters who were armed by county commissioners.
“Their pay is what they loot and the women they abduct,” the expert said.
Children targeted
The reports identifed Wankai in Mayom county as a transit point for the abducted sex slaves, which at one point held between 200 and 300 women. Rier in Koch county near the Thar Jath oil fields and Kotong in Mayom county which is a base for SPLA General Matthew Puljang were other holding centers.
Human Rights Watch has previously accused the SPLA generals Matthew Puljang, Thiab Gatluak Taitai, and Paul Malong of possible criminal responsibility for the southern Unity campaign which involved SPLA forces from Mayom and other counties with allied militia.
The protection situation report said the southern Unity campaign featured extreme violence against children as well.
“According to the UN Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism, there were more reports of killings, abductions and sexual violence against children between April and June in southern Unity than in all the reports received from the entire country in the preceding 15 months combined,” the report read.
“Many children drowned while fleeing the attacks, and even more became separated from their families. There are now over 900 unaccompanied and separated children registered in southern Unity alone,” the report said.