South Sudan: Military Court Martial to Proceed Against Soldiers Over Civilian Massacre. Juba, South Sudan — South Sudanese soldiers, including two officers, are set to face a court martial over a civilian massacre that occurred last month, according to an army spokesman.
The incident, which took place in Jonglei state, has added to the country’s volatile situation amidst ongoing conflicts between government and opposition forces.
The massacre in Ayod County, Jonglei state, resulted in the deaths of at least 25 civilians, including women and children, on February 21.
The army’s spokesman, Lul Ruai Koang, informed AFP that two officers, a major and several non-commissioned officers, have been detained and are scheduled to be arraigned before a military court martial in Juba.
The soldiers are accused of having acted without the authorization of their division commander and being part of a militia group allied with opposition forces, some of whom had not yet been fully integrated into the army.
Officials commented on the matter.
The lack of military integration into the peace agreement, which ended the civil war between President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar in 2018, has been highlighted as a contributing factor to the incident. Koang expressed regret over the loss of lives, emphasizing the army’s role in protecting civilians and their property.
The Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’Conference has also weighed in on the situation, urging authorities to deploy resources to protect vulnerable populations and promote dialogue and reconciliation. They called for an end to violence and revenge, offering support to the bereaved and the afflicted. Further details regarding the military court martial and the ongoing situation in Jonglei state are expected in the coming days.
