By RFIPalled on 07-09-2018Modified on 07-09-2018 at 15:14

Exclusive testimony for RFI, that of a humanitarian worker present during the attack on a hotel by South Sudanese soldiers in Juba in July 2016. In the capital, fighting raged between the army of President Salva Kiir and the men of his vice president Riek Machar. Like four other women, Sabrina was raped by a group of about ten soldiers, who also murdered journalist John Gatlouak. This Thursday, two of them were sentenced to life imprisonment by a court martial, the other seven to 14 years in prison. Sabrina was the only one of the victims present at this trial and her testimony was decisive.

RFI : What was your first reaction after this verdict ?

Sabrina: Yesterday was very important to me. My first reaction was: I won, we won, the women won. This trial is crucial for South Sudanese, as it is the first time that justice recognizes rape as a weapon of war. So it was important for all these women, not just in this country, but in all countries at war, where rape is not considered a crime. I had been fighting for two years. I started right after this incident, I did not want to be silent, I needed justice. It was not easy, because I could not go back to this country, but I did not want to give up, even if many people around me advised me to give up, because according to them it does not there would be no real trial. But I did not give up, so yesterday it was proof that we can win our case. And that it is important to believe in justice.

Why did you decide to return to South Sudan and testify?

The court martial wanted to drop this case because nobody wanted to testify in the country. And the court did not want to allow victims to testify by videoconference. When I knew they needed a witness, it was very hard for me to make the decision to come back. The idea of ​​going to Juba and being confronted by those who had persecuted me was horrible. It made me have nightmares, even today. But I told my family about it, and they encouraged me. They told me they were proud of me. And I decided to come and testify, even if I went alone. Because none of the victims wanted to go back there which I totally understand. But I told myself that we should not expect anything from this trial. If my testimony serves something, so much the better, otherwise I could tell myself that I did what I could.

Some critics say that those who have been sentenced are just soldiers, that their superiors have been protected and will never be worried. What do you think ?

Of course they are guilty, I was raped by five soldiers and I recognized four. Another did not rape me, but he beat me so badly that even today I have back problems. I recognized them right away. How can I forget people who did this to me? I can not forget their faces, never! They are guilty. They decided to rape me and rape women. Do you know how many South Sudanese are raped daily and suffer in silence because they can not speak? For me, these soldiers are guilty. Now, have there been any orders above them? Should their supervisor have been held responsible? I do not know, but I really hope that this trial will change the behavior of the soldiers of this country.

This is the first trial that sentenced soldiers for rape to South Sudan. Some say it was only possible because the victims were foreigners, and there was pressure on the South Sudanese government.

Of course, the fact that the victims are all foreigners, it has given more importance to this trial. But I want to stay positive. I hope this will serve as a precedent for this kind of crime. In any case, the verdict is positive, there is now a precedent and that is important. I hope that in the future the women of this country will have the courage to speak, denounce and be protected. Because how can they denounce these crimes if they are not protected?

    On the same subject

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