South Sudan army returns two allegedly trafficked children to families in Juba

Two young children allegedly abducted from Juba and sold to buyers in eastern South Sudan have been returned to their parents, the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) said. Officials warned that most of the children reported missing to security authorities have yet to be found.

The children, two-year-old Abi Gatwich Tuach and five-year-old Simon Gattiek Tut Kai, were handed to their families on Thursday at the army's general headquarters in Bilpam, Juba. The handover took place at the monument to the late Dr. John Garang de Mabior, according to Radio Tamazuj.

Alleged abduction and sale

Army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang said Abi went missing from the Suk Darfur area of Juba on December 5, 2025. He said Simon was abducted from the Suk Arnab residential area of the capital on June 13, 2026.

According to the spokesperson, three people, whom he named as Juma Logocho, Ayella Dominic Onono and Angok Ayok, allegedly trafficked the children. He said the children were then sold to separate buyers, whom he identified as Mary Amei and Thomei Agany. None of the people named has publicly responded to the allegations. The army did not say whether any of them are in custody or have been charged.

The children were later taken to Gumuruk, a town in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) in eastern South Sudan, near the border with Ethiopia.

Joint operation

Koang said the children were located through an intelligence-led operation carried out jointly by the SSPDF and GPAA authorities. He credited the GPAA chief administrator and the command of the army's Agrab Independent Brigade with the recovery.

"We were able to recover two children about five days ago," he told Radio Tamazuj. He said the children were transferred to Bilpam the day before the handover.

Most missing children still not found

According to Koang, security authorities have registered 32 missing children. Only three have so far been recovered and reunited with their families.

At the close of the ceremony, officials called on the GPAA administration to step up efforts to arrest suspects who remain at large and to trace other abducted children.

Koang also appealed to the public for help, asking families to report missing children, share their photographs with security officials and pass on information about anyone suspected of involvement in abductions.

"We are appealing to members of the public to keep on reporting to us missing children," he said, according to Radio Tamazuj. He added that reports can also be made at the nearest police station.

Background

Child abduction has long been a concern in parts of South Sudan, particularly in and around the Greater Pibor area, where such cases have often been linked to intercommunal tensions and cattle raiding. In this case, both children were reportedly taken from the capital and moved to Gumuruk, several hundred kilometres away, before being found.

The SSPDF did not give details of any charges or court proceedings connected to the case.

Source: Radio Tamazuj (South Sudan)

Picture: Radio Tamazuj (South Sudan)

Picture: illustration, not a photograph of the events.