Latest news with #GeneralCourtMartial
Zawya
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
The South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) General Court Martial in Western Bahr el Ghazal concludes
A General Court Martial, supported by the South Sudan People's Defense Forces, concluded in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal, on 5 July. It was preceded by two investigation missions to Wau and Jur River counties where 34 pending cases were reviewed. Subsequently, the military court adjudicated 20 criminal cases, convicting nine members of the SSPDF, stripping them of their ranks and dismissing them from military service. Notably, the General Court Martial delivered verdicts on two cases related to sexual and gender-based violence, resulting in convictions of seven and 10 years, respectively. Additionally, a conflict related sexual violence case involving multiple assailants and an underage victim was adjudicated, a first of its kind for such military court martials in South Sudan. The highest-ranking member of the SSPDF convicted was a Lieutenant Colonel, for the loss of a weapon. Two civilians in detention were released from military custody since they do not fall within the jurisdiction of a military court, while another civilian on trial for killing two SSPDF soldiers was sentenced to two years imprisonment and ordered to pay 62 heads of cattle or a monetary equivalent as blood compensation to the victims' families. The Court also heard six cases involving conflict related crimes committed during clashes in February 2025 in Kwajiena village, Jur River county. A lack of identification of assailants by victims, despite strong testimonies, did not lead to prosecutorial action in this regard. However, the hearing resulted in a directive to the state government to award financial compensation to all victims in accordance with South Sudan's civil procedure code. The General Court Martial team included two female judge-advocates to ensure that both female and male victims and witnesses were supported during the process. All victims also had access to two civilian victims' counsel, who provided free legal advice and actively participated in the proceedings to protect victim rights and help them navigate the justice process. This military court was followed by a civil-military dialogue in Wau with a focus on joint efforts to combat sexual violence. The aim was to strengthen trust between uniformed personnel and communities, as well as obtain real time feedback on the impact of such military justice interventions on host populations. The Wau General Court Martial was funded by the generous support of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Juba. In particular, it builds on the work of similar military proceedings that took place in Wau in 2022, which resulted in convictions of eight members of the SSPDF for murder. The convicted soldiers were stripped of their ranks and dismissed from the SSPDF. As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen justice mechanisms and rule of law processes, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) also provided funding for victims and witnesses to receive psychosocial support before, during, and after trial. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Reuters
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Detained Uganda opposition politician on hunger strike moved to hospital, lawmaker says
KAMPALA, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Ugandan opposition politician Kizza Besigye, who went on a hunger strike last week, has been rushed to hospital after his health deteriorated, said an allied lawmaker and a local television broadcaster. A long-time political opponent and critic of President Yoweri Museveni, Besigye has been in detention at a maximum security facility in the capital Kampala since November. His lawyers say he was "kidnapped" in neighbouring Kenya where he had travelled and forcefully transported back to Uganda, where he was charged in the military's General Court Martial (GCM) with various offences including illegal weapons possession. "Amidst very heavy security deployment, Dr. Besigye has been brought to a clinic at Bugolobi Village Mall," Francis Mwijukye, a lawmaker allied with Besigye, said in a post on the X platform late on Sunday, referring to a vast shopping mall in the Bugolobi suburb of Kampala. "He was being pushed in a wheel chair." The local NTV broadcaster also reported late on Sunday that Besigye had been taken to the health facility and that the area was under "tight security". NTV quoted a family member as saying Besigye "is not in a good situation, the situation is bad". Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi said in a post on the X social media platform late on Sunday that the government was fast tracking the transfer of his case to civilian courts, effectively ending his military prosecution. Last month Uganda's Supreme Court in a ruling said civilians should not be prosecuted in military courts, calling it unconstitutional. Many Ugandans, including fellow opposition leader, pop star Bobi Wine and a medical doctors association, took to social media over the weekend to express outrage and demand Besigye's release and unrestricted access to him by his doctors. The public anger and calls for his release mounted after Besigye was brought to court on Friday and appeared visibly weak, walking with difficulty and struggling to move his tongue to moisten his dry lips. His lawyers told local media last week after visiting him in prison that his health was deteriorating.
