A medical doctor in-charge of the surgical ward said the the girl sustained a severe wound inflicted by her younger brother.

By Makur Adut

An 18-year-old girl identified as Amou Mamer was admitted to Rumbek State Hospital on Tuesday after being tortured by her brother for declining the family’s organized marriage.

Doctor David,  a medical doctor in-charge of the surgical ward said the the girl sustained a severe wound inflicted by her younger brother.

“It is because she was to be married and the girl rejected the man and that’s why they have beaten her,” he explained.

He said the girl is likely to take three months in the hospital to fully recover.

Mamer Ajoch Lueth, the father of the victim regretted the incident, saying the assault would have not happened if he had been at home.

“If I were there, such thing would have not happened. It is so unfortunate such an incident occurred while I was away,” he said.

“I would have committed a crime, and that’s why I first brought her to hospital and to the police,” he added.

The father promised to take the son to court once the daughter recovered.

“I will take these children to court to explain why they harmed their sister by beating her badly like this.”

Meanwhile, the chairperson of the civil society organization network in Lakes State, Angelina Adhel Malual condemned the act and called for more sensitization in the communities.

“We need to respect the law. A legislation was enacted in 2022, which says no girl should be forced into marriage.”

In March last year (2024), reports emerged of an upsurge in gender-based violence, as well as forced and early marriages in Rumbek. This was despite its prohibition by customary laws and a public order passed in 2022 by the Lakes State Revitalized Transitional Legislative Assembly.

“We are working together as a cluster to protect girls and also report cases of gender-based violence in the state,” said Daniel Laat Kon, coordinator of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) in Lakes State.

Daniel Jur Marial, then head of the police’s gender and child protection unit in Rumbek Central County, revealed that most of the cases came from the counties of Rumbek East, Wulu, Rumbek North, Cueibet, and Rumbek Central.

“These cases are very common in our Lakes State. We have to educate the people to desist from the practice of early marriage because it is illegal according to our laws,” Marial told the media.