A team of investigators appointed by the government is currently in Bentiu to look into the recent reports of sexual attacks near Bentiu town.

On 30 November, the international medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that over 100 women and girls have sought medical treatment after having been raped or sexually assaulted by young men in civilian clothing or military uniforms in a ten-day period as they walked along roads near Nhialdu and Guit on their way to Bentiu.

The government of Northern Liech State announced the arrival of the government team saying that they have a mandate to look into the alleged rape cases near Bentiu town.

Northern Liech’s Deputy Governor Larika Machar told Radio Tamazuj this afternoon that the team, which is led by National Minister of Gender Awut Deng Achuil, will review reports of sexual attacks on women and girls last month.

“The investigation has been closed today and the team will go back to Juba. A team of National Security Service also came to Bentiu here and then returned to Juba,” he said.

“Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Gender and our state minister of information are members of the team, which is led by the National Minister of Gender,” he explained.

Larika pointed out that the government will share the findings of its investigation into the reported sexual attacks near Bentiu with the public.” The report will be made public after it is presented to the president,” he said.