South Sudan soldiers face trial for deadly hotel rampage

The judges sit in the courtroom during the trial of South Sudanese soldiers accused of an attack during the country's civil war, in the capital Juba, South Sudan Tuesday May 30, 2017. South Sudanese soldiers accused of a horrific attack on foreign aid workers during the country's civil war are facing trial almost a year later. Twelve of the 20 soldiers accused of rape, torture, killing and looting during the attack on the Terrain hotel compound were in court Tuesday. The trial is a test of South Sudan's ability to hold its soldiers accountable. (AP Photo/Bullen Chol). The judges sit in the courtroom during the trial of South Sudanese soldiers accused of an attack during the country's civil war, in the capital Juba, South Sudan Tuesday May 30, 2017. South Sudanese soldiers accused of a horrific attack on foreign aid workers during the country's civil war are facing trial almost a year later. Twelve of the 20 soldiers accused of rape, torture, killing and looting during the attack on the Terrain hotel compound were in court Tuesday. The trial is a test of South Sudan's ability to hold its soldiers accountable. (AP Photo/Bullen Chol).

By Associated Press May 30, 2017 2 min read

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) – South Sudanese soldiers accused of a horrific attack on foreign aid workers during the country’s civil war are facing trial almost a year later, with the possibility of a death sentence.

Twelve of the 20 soldiers accused of rape, torture, killing and looting during the attack on the Terrain hotel compound were in court Tuesday. The assault came during fresh fighting in the capital, Juba, in July.

An investigation by The Associated Press last year showed that dozens of soldiers broke into the compound and terrorized residents and staff while the nearby United Nations peacekeeping mission did not respond to pleas for help. Five foreigners reported being gang-raped, and one local journalist was shot in the head and killed as others were forced to watch.

The U.N. secretary-general later fired the commander of the U.N. peacekeeping mission over its response to the attacks on the hotel compound and elsewhere.

The trial is a test of South Sudan’s ability to hold its soldiers accountable. It is expected to last several weeks, with the next court date scheduled for June 6.