Doctors Without Borders: Unknown Armed Men Raped 125 Women in South Sudan

Doctors Without Borders announced on Friday that during ten days of widespread violence in the city of Bentiu in northern South Sudan, unknown armed men raped 125 women. However, local officials deny this report. According to Reuters, South Sudan has been embroiled in a devastating civil war for over five years, and although a peace agreement was signed between the government and rebels two months ago, ethnic hostilities continue, and many remain armed. Civilians from rival ethnic groups are the primary victims of violence and a recurring cycle of revenge. Doctors Without Borders stated that in addition to the rapes, victims of recent violence in Bentiu reported being whipped and beaten with sticks and gun butts. Additionally, victims' property, money, and food have been stolen. A midwife working for the aid organization said, 'Some of the rape victims are 10-year-old girls and others are women over 65. In these brutal attacks, even pregnant women were not spared.' However, the South Sudanese Minister of Information questioned the validity of this report. Lam Tungwar told Reuters, 'Rape on such a scale is not true. Our government respects human rights, especially women's rights.' He stated that judicial authorities would address the issue of rape in this city and other areas, adding, 'I do not agree with this report as it does not accurately describe us and the northern regions of the country.' Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of South Sudan, signed an agreement in September aimed at ending the civil war with rebels. During the five-year civil war, approximately 400,000 people have been killed, and one-third of the country's population has been displaced. Previous peace agreements in the country have quickly failed.