By Yiep Joseph
The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) have arrested eight suspects over an alleged child trafficking network.
The arrest was linked to reports of 23 missing children in Juba.
Addressing media over the weekend, the SSPDF spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Luoi Ruai, said military intelligence officers arrested the suspects after conducting surveillance and raiding several houses in the Suk Darfur residential area.
According to Ruai, residents had initially reported the missing children to the police before alerting the military.
The reports prompted intelligence officers to investigate individuals suspected of involvement in the disappearances.
“Children have been reported going missing in their respective homes while in the market doing their daily activities; a total of 23 children were reported missing in Suk Darfur residential area alone, so our security personnel have been monitoring the area, observing, collecting information from members of the public, and eventually they made a breakthrough; they apprehended a total of 8 suspects,” Ruai said.
The spokesperson said the suspects included members of the organised forces and civilians who were allegedly involved in luring children, keeping them in houses, and arranging their transfer to potential buyers.
Ruai said some suspects had allegedly used sweets and biscuits to lure unsuspecting children into the network.
The military said suspected members had performed different roles, including attracting children, keeping them in designated houses, and connecting them with potential buyers.
Ruai said a boy who had reportedly been abducted 20 days earlier had been recovered from the Greater Pibor area and reunited with his parents.
Eight other children had reportedly been traced but were still awaiting repatriation to Juba to reunite with their families.
However, the military had not provided a complete account of the whereabouts of all 23 children reported missing over the three years.
The SSPDF spokesperson also named former Greater Pibor Administrative Area Finance Minister Hon. Stephen Jongkuch Kudumuch among individuals allegedly connected to the investigation.
Ruai said three additional civilians suspected of involvement in the alleged network had evaded arrest and remained at large at the time of the briefing.
The military alleged that some suspects had acted as buyers, while others had helped lure children and arrange their transfer between locations.
According to the spokesperson, the missing children came from different communities living in Juba, including Nuer, Dinka, and Shilluk families.
The SSPDF said investigations were continuing as authorities sought to locate the missing children and establish the roles of the suspects.
Authorities had yet to release a comprehensive update on all 23 missing-child reports or provide details of any court proceedings arising from the case.
The reported incidents raised concerns about child protection and the need for cooperation between families, community leaders, police, and security agencies to help prevent further disappearances.