JUBA — Authorities in Twic County of South Sudan’s Warrap State have arrested five people over an alleged attempt to forcefully take a schoolgirl for elopement without her consent.
The incident occurred on Thursday in Turalei Payam, Twic County, when a group of young people allegedly attempted to elope with a 16-year-old Primary Six pupil.
The identity of the girl has been withheld for privacy reasons.
Major Manyok Riing, the officer in charge of the Criminal Department at the Turalei Payam Police Station, said five young men were arrested in connection with an alleged attempt to force a schoolgirl into marriage.
“We have detained at least five men who attempted to carry away the young school girl of around 16 years,” Manyok told this publication on Friday.
He said the men acted unlawfully, with one of them allegedly using force to overpower the girl while her parents were away at the market.
“This act of forcing someone against her will is tantamount to rape. so the case is opened against them and will be subjected to the verdict of the judge.”
Manyok warned young people against disregarding laws and social norms that discourage forced marriages of girls, saying efforts are ongoing to promote gender equality and protect the rights of women and girls in all spheres of society.
“Our people need to work hard to embrace education as a tool to fight poverty rather than marrying girls off,” he implored. For these people, they will answer the charges in the court.”
Marriage remains a union between two families in many South Sudanese communities, where some traditional practices continue to influence decisions around marrying off girls.
Critics say the practice is often driven by demands for bride wealth, social status, and the prestige associated with receiving large numbers of cattle for a daughter.
Government officials, community leaders, and scholars have continued to discourage forced marriages, warning of their negative impact on girls’ education, rights, and well-being.
In Twic County, local police authorities have taken steps to combat the practice, with officers from the Criminal Investigation Department in Turalei Payam saying they remain committed to enforcing laws that protect girls from forced marriages and other forms of abuse.
