South Sudan denies forceful conscription of gangs amid crackdown

JUBA – The South Sudan National Police Service on Tuesday rejected claims that youths arrested during recent anti-crime operations in Juba were forcibly recruited into the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).

The clarification follows viral photos and videos alleging that security forces were arbitrarily arresting young people and sending them to military training camps.

Last week, the opposition group SPLA-IO claimed it had rescued 17 youths from SSPDF bases in Unity State, alleging they were among those arrested in Juba and subjected to forced recruitment.

Lawmakers and families have asserted that the recent crackdown was a pretext for forcibly conscripting young men into the military and sending them to conflict zones.

Police spokesperson Maj. Gen. Monday Enoka said the suspects were transferred to detention facilities outside Juba due to limited space in the capital’s holding centers.

“The detention centers in Juba are not enough to accommodate all those who were arrested. So, we had to identify states that had available space in their facilities,” Enoka said on Tuesday in an interview with Sudan Post.

Enoka emphasized that South Sudan has established recruitment procedures.

“For someone to be recruited, they must be scrutinized and found to be decent citizens. They must meet criteria including age, education, and health requirements. There are about five conditions for recruitment into the police.”

He said that those found to be underage, or students, or individuals with health conditions were released during the screening process.

“We always hand them back to their parents, who sign undertakings to be responsible for them. Only adults with criminal records are kept in detention, and their families are informed,” he said.

He further urged the public to cooperate with security agencies by sharing information that could help restore calm in the capital.

The government launched a major crackdown on crime in Juba and surrounding areas last month following a spike in violent incidents. Among the cases that triggered the operation was the gang rape of a teenage girl in Shirikat by more than eight suspected gang members.

The crackdown has so far led to dozens of arrests and joint security operations across the city.