According to Thiik Agoth Giir, the Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Department in Gogrial East, the suspect—identified only as Manyang—was a guest in the victim’s home. After spending the night there, he reportedly followed the woman to her garden, where she was weeding and assaulted her.
“Manyang was hosted overnight by the woman and her husband. Early the next morning, the husband invited him to accompany him to the nearby Mawut Aker Market, but Manyang declined, saying he would go later,” Giir explained. “After the husband left, Manyang trailed the woman to her garden and raped her. She is a 28-year-old mother of a seven-month-old baby.”
The officer said the woman reported the matter to police two days later and was immediately taken to the hospital in Luonyaker for treatment. “A case has been opened against the suspect. The survivor is currently receiving medical care,” Giir added.
He noted that this case brings the number of reported sexual violence cases in the area to eight since July—two involving adult women and six involving girls. Giir appealed to the public to respect the rights of women and girls, warning that such acts are punishable by law.
Bol Rech Gom, a nurse at Luonyaker Health Facility, said the survivor initially refused to breastfeed her child due to cultural beliefs discouraging breastfeeding after sexual assault. “She was advised by an elderly woman not to breastfeed, but we encouraged her to resume. She is now recovering,” Gom said.
Cases of rape continue to rise across South Sudan, prompting authorities to call for stronger community vigilance and protection of women and girls.
