The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) has successfully reunited two abducted children with their parents in a ceremony held at the SSPDF General Headquarters in Bilpam, Juba. The children, aged two and five, were recovered following an operation targeting an alleged child trafficking network operating between Juba and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area. This reunification marks a significant milestone in the SSPDF's efforts to combat child trafficking.
According to Army Spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang, the two recovered children are Abi Gatwich Tuach, about two years old, and Simon Gattiek Tut Kai, five. They were abducted on December 5, 2025, and June 13, 2026, from the Suk Darfur and Suk Arnab residential areas, respectively. The SSPDF received intelligence that the children were allegedly trafficked by individuals identified as Juma Logocho, Ayella Dominic Onono, and Angok Ayok.
The SSPDF's operation involved cooperation with the Chief Administrator of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) and the command of Agrab Independent Brigade. The military's Combat Intelligence Operations and Surveillance Unit played a crucial role in tracing the children. Major General Lul credited the successful recovery to the full support and cooperation from the GPAA and the Agrab Independent Brigade.
The reunification ceremony saw the children's parents express gratitude to the military and the Greater Pibor authorities for facilitating the reunification. The parents' emotional reunion with their children was a testament to the SSPDF's efforts to bring abducted children back to their families. The ceremony concluded with an appeal to the Greater Pibor administration to intensify efforts to locate other abducted children.
The SSPDF's operation is part of a broader effort to combat child trafficking in South Sudan. On October 17, the military announced the arrest of eight suspected traffickers in Juba’s Mangateen neighbourhood following an intelligence operation. During a press briefing, Major General Lul revealed that 23 children had been reported missing from the Suk Darfur residential area, with one child previously recovered and reunited with his family.
The SSPDF has not provided an updated account of how many of the 23 children previously reported missing have since been recovered or reunited with their families. However, the successful recovery of the two children demonstrates the military's commitment to addressing the issue of child trafficking. The Greater Pibor administration has been urged to take further action to bring suspects still at large to account.
The recovery of the two children and their reunification with their parents is a positive step towards addressing the issue of child trafficking in South Sudan. The SSPDF's efforts to combat child trafficking have been commended by the public, and the military is expected to continue its operations to bring perpetrators to justice.
Key points
- The SSPDF has reunited two abducted children, aged 2 and 5, with their parents in Juba.
- The children were recovered following an operation targeting a child trafficking network operating between Juba and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.
- The SSPDF's efforts to combat child trafficking have resulted in the arrest of eight suspected traffickers and the recovery of at least two children.
