Civil society coalition welcomes SSPDF child trafficking crackdown, urges sustained action

The National Civil Society Coalition (NCSC) has commended the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) for its efforts to combat child trafficking and called for sustained action against suspected trafficking networks.

In a press statement issued on Monday, the coalition welcomed the military’s recent interventions and urged authorities to continue the operations beyond the current arrests.

The statement follows an SSPDF announcement over the weekend reporting the trafficking of 23 children and the arrest of individuals suspected of involvement in the crime.

The coalition said child abductions remained widespread in Greater Pibor Administrative Area, Jonglei, Eastern Equatoria and Central Equatoria states.

It attributed the problem to communal conflicts, cattle raiding, road ambushes and weak law enforcement.

The coalition said child trafficking had caused immense suffering to families whose children had been abducted and called for stronger measures to address the crime.

NCSC chairperson Bol Deng Bol said the coalition hoped the military’s interventions would be sustained and involve other government institutions and local authorities.

The coalition also called for stronger law enforcement and justice systems to ensure those responsible are held accountable.

Child abduction and trafficking remain concerns in parts of South Sudan, where insecurity and communal violence expose children to serious risks.

The National Civil Society Coalition is an umbrella body representing civil society networks from South Sudan’s 10 states and three administrative areas.