South Sudan soldiers on trial for rights abuses

Some 75 government soldiers arrested in Yei, a town in South Sudan's Central Equatoria state, are being tried by military judges in the capital Juba for alleged human rights abuses.

The special tribunal comes after a recent visit by the new Chief of Defence Forces, General Johnson Juma Okot, to Yei and surrounding areas where violence between government forces and rebels have forced civilians from their homes.

"Rape, murder, arbitrary arrests, robbery and to some extent torture" were among the violations reported at the trial according to Jame David Kolok, attending proceedings on behalf of Foundation for Democracy and Accountable Governance (FODAG).

He told the BBC that among the alleged victims who appeared in the court was a 14-year-old girl who said she was raped by soldiers.

He added that many of the defendants have so far pleaded guilty to charges of rape and murder.

No verdicts have yet been passed.