Wau Military Court: Sentences Soldier to 10 Years for UN Staff Murder

In South Sudan, a military court in Wau recently sentenced a South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) soldier to 10 years in prison for the abduction and murder of a United Nations staff member, Bol Rhoch Mayol Kuot, who was killed on December 15, 2025, while on official duty in Hai Masna, Western Bahr el Ghazal state. The General Court Martial further ordered the soldier’s demotion and dismissal from the army, alongside an award of 51 head of cattle as compensation to the victim’s family. This significant ruling, which UNMISS has confirmed is subject to appeal, marks a critical development in the accountability for crimes committed against international personnel within the country.

This judgment carries substantial legal significance for practitioners, international organizations, and the broader public in South Sudan, particularly concerning the rule of law and accountability within the military. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) hailed the decision as a