All armed groups have been accused of committing abuses against civilians, including sexual violence, which is frequently used as a tactic to displace and terrorise rival communities.
State forces have been implicated in rape committed during armed clashes with insurgents, during counter-insurgency campaigns, while they were in pursuit of criminal elements, and during unauthorised activities such as looting, affecting many women during a single operation. Non-state armed actors are often implicated in gang rapes involving a single survivor. These incidents occurred in the bush while survivors were performing ordinary household activities, such as collecting firewood or water.
Sexual Violence in South Sudan country profile. Data.