GPAA welcomes SSPDF intelligence report on child trafficking, urges recognition of local efforts
The Government of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) has welcomed the SSPDF Military Intelligence report on child abduction and human trafficking but warned against overlooking its own efforts in combating the crimes.
Speaking to Eye Radio on Wednesday 21 October 2026, Caretaker Minister of Information, Communication and Technology Jacob Werchum Juok said his administration condemned child trafficking and pledged to continue cooperating with national security agencies to apprehend those responsible.
The statement follows a briefing by SSPDF spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang on Saturday, October 17, in which he announced the arrest of eight suspects over alleged child abduction and trafficking in Juba.
According to Koang, the arrests followed investigations into reports of 23 children missing from the Suk Darfur residential area in Mangateen, Juba.
The military spokesperson alleged that the suspected network involved individuals who lured children, kept them in safe houses and facilitated their transfer to potential buyers.
Koang said one child had been recovered from Greater Pibor and reunited with family, while eight other children had reportedly been traced as investigations continued.
The military also mentioned former GPAA Finance Minister Stephen Jongkuch Kudumoch in connection with the investigation, alleging that a person suspected of buying an abducted child had stayed at his residence before the child was reportedly taken to Gumuruk in Greater Pibor.
The former official reportedly denied knowledge of the alleged crime. The allegations have not been established in court.
However, Werchum said the GPAA administration welcomed the military’s efforts but called for recognition of the role played by local security personnel.
“The Government of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) strongly condemns child trafficking and all forms of criminal activity. We welcome the SSPDF Military Intelligence’s efforts in uncovering suspected syndicates and reaffirm our government’s commitment to collaborating with security organs in apprehending those responsible for such offenses,” he said.
“The detention of a female suspect in Gumuruk highlights the importance of collaboration between local and national agencies. We call for clarification and acknowledgment of the role GPAA security personnel played in this operation,” Werchum added.
The administration also rejected attempts to hold the Murle community collectively responsible for alleged criminal activities, insisting that criminal allegations should be handled without ethnic or tribal discrimination.
Addressing the allegations against Kudumoch, Werchum said the accusations did not establish his guilt or demonstrate that the GPAA government supported, protected or ignored criminal activities.
“The accusation against Hon. Stephen Jongkuch Kudumoch does not establish his guilt or imply that the PAA Government supports, protects or ignores criminal activities,” Werchum stated.
The GPAA government further said it had previously facilitated the rescue and return of 27 abducted women and children to communities in Jonglei and Eastern Equatoria.
Werchum reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to working with the national government, neighbouring states and communities to combat child abduction and human trafficking and facilitate the recovery of abducted women and children.
The administration maintained that individuals should be held accountable for criminal acts based on evidence, rather than having entire communities blamed for alleged offenses.
