In 2019, Bentiu was considered the largest Protection of Civilians camp in South Sudan. Credit| UNMISS/Nektarios Markogiannis

At least 10 children have reportedly disappeared under unknown circumstances from Bentiu Protection of Civilian site in Unity State.

The youth chairman at the PoC revealed to Eye Radio on Wednesday.

It’s not clear how the teenagers disappeared.

But Kalany Bolis Kueth has accused SSPDF and SPLA-IO forces to have illegally abducted them from the camp.

According to Bolis, those vanished were mainly primary and secondary schools going children studying in the Bentiu camp.

The ages range between 14 and 17 years old.

Bolis alleges the abductees might have been conscripted as recruits into the armed forces.

He was speaking to Eye Radio via phone from the PoC in Unity state.

“For the last two weeks we have experienced a lot of difficulties on youth. Some have been arrested and others have been abducted and taken to different locations”, Bolis said.

As we talk now there are people calling from Yei and others have been taken to the other side of Magenis by the armed forces and they all have been abducted from UNMISS IDP camp”, Bolis claims.

In response, the SSPDF spokesperson, Major General Lul Ruai Koang told Eye Radio that; “Am not aware, but let me find out.”

For his part, the Spokesperson of the SPLA-IO Colonel Lam Paul Gabriel distanced IO from the matter, saying they do not have soldiers within Bentiu town.

He claimed the town is fully under control of SSPDF that should provide the answer.

“This harassment is not been done by the SPLA-IO, we are outside Bentiu, we are very far away” Lam denied.

However, he called on the SSPDF Headquarters to take responsibility of the matter.

“Lul Ruai need to answer more on that, there’s no way he can continue running away from the truth, let’s be sincere to our people and let’s be sincere to our country”, Lam said.