CEPO’s Yakani welcomes arrest of ‘criminal-minded’ soldiers in Gondokoro

JUBA – A South Sudan civil society leader has praised the reported arrest of soldiers accused of human rights violations during a recent disarmament exercise in Gondokoro Payam of Central Equatoria State’s Juba County.

Local officials confirmed the arrest of several soldiers, including a force commander, following accusations of beating and raping civilians during the disarmament process.

Governor Emmanuel Adil acknowledged the soldiers’ misconduct and their actions as “not allowed by the law.”

Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), welcomed in a statement extended to Sudans Post this evening the government’s action as a positive response to calls for accountability.

“CEPO strongly appreciates the remarkable act of the SSPDF leadership for taking responsibility by arresting some officers and soldiers over the atrocities committed against Gondokoro civilians,” Yakani said.

He emphasized this as a “positive response to our advocacy for holding soldiers accountable.”

Yakani commended the SSPDF’s commitment to holding “indiscipline and criminal-minded soldiers” accountable, urging them to uphold human rights principles and the rule of law.

He cited recent instances of military justice holding soldiers responsible for similar offenses across the country and encouraged the practice to continue.

Yakani stressed the importance of addressing the economic hardships potentially driving soldiers to commit such acts against civilians.

He emphasized the unacceptability of forcefully displacing civilians and called for continued commitment to holding accountable those who violate the law.