A fifteen-year-old girl was reportedly gang-raped by nine men in South Sudan’s Yei River County last week, an official said.
The police commissioner in Yei, Major General Yoasa Lujang Kamba, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that the teenage girl was gang-raped at Hai Police residential area in Yei town area last Sunday. He said the victim is receiving medical care at Yei civil hospital.
Lujang said police have launched an investigation into the matter adding that the perpetrators will face the law.
“We will try our level best to look for the perpetrators because the victim said she knows one rapist among the perpetrators and they will all be tracked down so that they can be brought to book for justice so that the rest cannot repeat such crimes,” Gen. Lujang said.
Lujang said the police received more than ten cases of rape and girl child abuse between Christmas and New Year festivities.
Medical workers at Yei civil hospital said the 15-year-old girl is recovering well after undergoing medical treatment.
A medical worker who spoke to Radio Tamazuj on condition of anonymity said the victim was rushed to the health facility for medical examination and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) medication to prevent HIV infection after exposure.
“On Monday, she was brought to the hospital by her parents and attended medical checkups, counseling, and treatment and she is in stable condition receiving medical service,” the medical worker added.
Meanwhile, a women rights activist in Yei River County is calling on police authorities in the area to investigate the circumstances behind the rape of the teenage girl.
Women rights activist Hawa Adam condemned the incident and demanded justice.
“I condemn this act because a young girl cannot be raped by nine men and I am urging the police in Yei to investigate the incident and the perpetrators have to be arrested to stop such occurrences in the future,” Hawa said.
On the other hand, Hawa appealed to parents to protect their children, “I am urging the parents of our children to take care in protecting their children because children, especially girls, misbehave at funeral places and sometimes they are attacked and raped on their way back home.”
Article 17 of the South Sudan constitution defines a child as anyone under the age of 18, and further states that the best interests of the child will be protected in all matters related to his or her life, and that they should not be subjected to exploitative practices or abuse.