South Sudan’s army has announced that several soldiers, including two officers, will face a court martial over the killing of civilians in Jonglei State last month as violence continues to rise in parts of the country.
Army spokesman Lul Ruai Koang said the arrested soldiers would be charged in the capital, Juba, before being tried by a military court.
According to him, the suspects include a major and several non-commissioned officers accused of involvement in the February 21 attack in Ayod County, where at least 25 civilians, including women and children, were killed, based on reports from opposition sources.
Koang explained that the soldiers allegedly carried out the operation without the knowledge or approval of their division commander.
The military linked the killings to “some elements” operating under General Johnson Olony, who had earlier been seen in a video instructing troops to “spare no lives” in Jonglei. Authorities said the soldiers belonged to a militia group aligned with opposition forces that had yet to be fully integrated into the national army, despite provisions in the 2018 peace agreement that ended the five-year civil war between President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar.
The development comes amid renewed clashes between government and opposition forces, particularly in eastern Jonglei State. The United Nations says at least 280,000 people have been displaced by the violence since December.
The army expressed regret over the civilian deaths and reminded its personnel that their duty is to protect civilians and their property.
Meanwhile, church leaders have also warned about the worsening security situation. The Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference recently urged authorities to safeguard vulnerable communities and encourage dialogue after fresh violence in Abiemnom County near the Sudan border reportedly left at least 169 people dead.
