JUBA — More than 50 survivors of conflict-related sexual violence gathered in Juba on Wednesday to demand answers and accountability, two years after South Sudan’s first-ever war crimes complaint was filed, a landmark case that raised hopes of justice for victims of wartime atrocities.
The survivors, alongside religious leaders, government officials and civil society representatives, used the occasion of South Sudan’s National Remembrance Day to renew calls for swift investigations and prosecutions, saying justice remains out of reach nearly a decade after the alleged crimes were committed.
“As we mark the second anniversary of South Sudan’s National Remembrance Day, survivors were joined by religious leaders, government officials and civil society members to renew their call for accountability, nearly a decade after they were subjected to unspeakable violence,” a statement seen by Sudan Post said.
Among the survivors is Elisabeth, now 23, who said she continues to suffer the effects of sexual violence allegedly committed by soldiers of the former Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in February 2017.
“We have suffered from the rapes, and we are still suffering from stigma from the community because of what we endured,” she said. “It has been too long. We need justice.”
Pauline, another 23-year-old survivor, said the opening of the case had initially given victims hope, but the slow pace of investigations has left many frustrated.
“I was happy when the case was opened by the South Sudanese legal authorities, but the results of the investigation and accountability for those who shattered our lives are long overdue,” she said.
The commemorative event was organized by Legal Action Worldwide (LAW), in partnership with the Centre for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice (CIGPJ) and the South Sudan Survivors Network (SUNS), to honour the courage of survivors and ensure that their demand for justice is not forgotten.
In October 2024, LAW and CIGPJ filed South Sudan’s first criminal complaint for war crimes on behalf of three women who endured severe sexual violence during the 2017 conflict. The women were subjected to rape, gang rape and physical assaults. Two of the survivors were children, aged just 14 at the time of the attacks.
Nearly a decade later, the survivors say they continue to wait for justice.
A significant breakthrough came in March 2026 when the Department of Public Prosecutions accepted the case and launched an investigation into the allegations. Rights groups described the decision as a major step toward accountability for thousands of women and girls who have experienced conflict-related sexual violence across the country.
According to estimates cited by campaigners, more than 70 percent of women in South Sudan have experienced some form of gender-based violence, making the country one of the most dangerous places in the world for women and girls.
Antonia Mulvey, Executive Director of Legal Action Worldwide, welcomed the decision by the Ministry of Justice and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions to investigate the case but said victims have waited too long for justice.
“We applaud the actions of the Ministry of Justice and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for their decision to open an investigation, offering an opportunity for justice for all sexual violence survivors,” Mulvey said.
“But victims have been waiting and suffering for too long. Their pain and trauma must be acknowledged, and South Sudan must now hold perpetrators accountable by moving forward with the prosecution of those who committed these crimes. The women we represent are entitled to justice. They are entitled to build their future with dignity.”
South Sudan ratified the Geneva Conventions in 2012, granting the country’s High Court the authority to investigate and prosecute war crimes, including crimes committed by members of the military. However, legal experts and rights advocates say these provisions have yet to be fully implemented, leaving many survivors of wartime atrocities still waiting for justice.
