A South Sudan military court imposed death sentences on three soldiers and a 10-year prison term on a fourth for murdering two civilians during nighttime home invasions driven by robbery, according to a report.
The victims, Lilian Lurit and Ayol Majak, were killed during raids by armed gangs that targeted their residences. Two additional civilians who assisted the perpetrators received convictions—one for life imprisonment and the other for eight years.
All four soldiers, including two sergeants, were discharged from the South Sudan People's Defence Force (SSPDF). A military spokesman emphasized the prosecution marked the first time soldiers faced charges for terrorizing residential areas in Juba and other regions. "This sends a clear message that the SSPDF does not tolerate criminal behavior," he stated.
The convicted soldiers' attorney announced plans to appeal the verdict. Meanwhile, Amnesty International has documented widespread atrocities in South Sudan, including mass killings, sexual violence, and targeted attacks on civilians since the 2013 conflict erupted between President Salva Kiir's Dinka-led forces and opposition leader Riek Machar's Nuer faction.
The war, which has claimed nearly 400,000 lives and displaced millions, saw a fragile ceasefire collapse last year. A separate 2018 incident in Juba involved 10 soldiers convicted in a hotel attack that left five foreign aid workers raped and a local journalist murdered, though higher-ranking officials remain unaccountable for such crimes.
