South Sudanese army returns two abducted children to families in Juba
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Eye Radio
The South Sudanese army returned two children aged two and five to their families after they were abducted and found during an operation against an alleged child trafficking network. The handover took place on 29 October at the military headquarters in Juba, after eight suspects were arrested on 17 October, according to army spokesman Lul Ruai Koang, quoted by Eye Radio.
The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces returned two abducted children, aged two and five, to their families during a ceremony held on Thursday at the SSPDF headquarters in Bilpam, Juba. The army’s spokesman, Major General Lul Ruai Koang, announced the reunification.
Abi Gatwich Tuach was abducted on 5 December 2025 in the Suk Darfur neighbourhood, while Simon Gattiek Tut Kai disappeared on 13 June 2026 in Suk Arnab. The army says the children were transferred to separate people in Gumuruk, in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, after their alleged abduction by Juma Logocho, Ayella Dominic Onono and Angok Ayok.
The operation follows the arrest of eight suspects in Juba on 17 October as part of an investigation into an alleged child trafficking network between Juba and Greater Pibor. The army had said at the time that 23 children were missing in the Suk Darfur area, that one child had already been reunited with their family and that eight others had been located. The families thanked the armed forces and the authorities in Greater Pibor, which were urged to continue searching for the other children and arrest the suspects still at large.
