RUMBEK – A 16-year-old girl in Rumbek East County in South Sudan’s Lakes State has reportedly taken her own life after her family denied her permission to attend a local wrestling event.
Rumbek East County Commissioner, Zechariah Malual Anyuon, confirmed the tragic incident, which occurred on Wednesday in Pul-arok village.
“This morning, a 16-year-old girl committed suicide in Pul-arok village,” Malual told journalists. “When people noticed she was missing from her residence, they began searching for her and eventually found her hanging from a tree.”
According to the commissioner, the girl was a Primary Six pupil. Her father told authorities that the incident occurred after she was stopped from attending a local wrestling event organized in the area.
“The parents had gone to attend a marriage ceremony and spent the night there. The next day, a local wrestling event was taking place in the village,” Malual explained. “Her brother refused to let her go to the wrestling site, and that is when she decided to take her own life.”
Malual expressed sadness over the incident and urged families to adopt more understanding approaches when dealing with their children.
“When you advise or prevent your sister or daughter from attending community gatherings, you may not know how they will react,” he said. “It is part of our culture to guide girls for their safety, but parents and guardians should also allow them to participate in community activities to avoid such unfortunate situations.”
Daniel Laat Kon, a civil society activist in Lakes State, described the incident as “deeply unfortunate” and called for a thorough investigation.
“It is very unfortunate to hear that a young girl has committed suicide after being denied permission to watch traditional wrestling,” Laat said. “The authorities should investigate the matter thoroughly. What has been reported so far is not enough.”
Laat also emphasized the need for greater mental health awareness and accountability.
“Cases of suicide have become increasingly common,” he said. “We have been urging the government to ensure that all individuals linked to such cases are held accountable. Parents, too, must take responsibility when their actions contribute to the loss of young lives.”
He called on international organizations and partners to support local initiatives that promote mental health awareness and counseling services.
“We urge the UN and other partners to help national organizations establish awareness campaigns and basic counseling centers to support our communities,” Laat added. “Suicide is not a solution to any problem—it only deepens the pain for families and society.”
