A South Sudanese bishop has accused the country’s army of committing mass rape and torture amid a civil war, according to premierchristianradio.com.
According to Fides Rt Rev Paul Yugusuk, of the Anglican Diocese of Lomega, says he’s met several women who claim they were raped by government troops.
“We do not know the exact number of women who were raped but we have five women and girls here in Juba Teaching Hospital,” he said.
“Most of them are underage girls and women.”
Bishop Paul also says 46 men from nearby have been detained and tortured by forces, of which four are still imprisoned with their whereabouts unknown.
He claims the sexual assaults and kidnaps happened on a road linking the capital Juba with Nimule, another town in South Sudan.
A nearby village was also looted with the majority of civilians fleeing. Only around a dozen elderly people remain there, according to the bishop.
The country is currently gripped in civil war between forces loyal to the President Salva Kiir and those loyal to Vice-President Riek Machar.
There is evidence fighting has been happening on ethnic as well as political lines, with Fides reporting a senior member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army – loyal to the government – has recently resigned in opposition to the targeting of people who do not belong to the Dinka racial group.
The group has begun escorting all vehicles on the Juba-Nimule highway for safety.
