Two SPLA soldiers in plain clothes entered the UN protection of civilians site in Juba where they were assaulted and held captive overnight apparently by individuals inside, the U.N. Mission in South Sudan said on Sunday.
“When UNMISS UN police were notified, a formed police unit deployed immediately and conducted a successful rescue operation. The individuals informed UNMISS they had entered into PoC3 at their own free will,” UNMISS said in a statement.
It is the latest incident of insecurity near or at the PoC, UNMISS said, and comes at a time when the government has aggressively criticized the sites, saying there are many criminals inside.
But government soldiers have been accused of fermenting instability around the PoC’s as well. Witnesses and survivors inside the PoC told Radio Tamazuj that soldiers wearing government uniforms have gang-raped women after fighting in June. The UN says they have reports of over 200 cases of sexual violence against women living in the camp, which holds roughly 37,000 people and there are reports that the attacks continue.
“The UN can only work with the cooperation of the Transitional Government to reinforce the protection of civilians,” UNMISS said.