VP Abdelbagi: Early and forced marriage are crimes in South Sudan

2026-03-26 - 08:43

Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi Akol states that early and forced marriages are crimes under South Sudan law and warns that the government will enforce a ban on these practices. Speaking on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, during the closing of the Girls’ Education South Sudan (GESS) project, the Chairperson for the Service Cluster addressed the impact of marriage practices on education. “Early marriage and forced marriage, we are going to assure our citizens that this one is forbidden, and we are going to stop it by law because the law of South Sudan forbids it. We don’t want to hear about forced marriage, and we don’t want to hear about early marriage. These things are crimes in South Sudan,” Vice President Abdelbagi said. The Vice President’s remarks follow the conclusion of the GESS project, which aims to improve girls’ enrollment and retention in schools across the country. He emphasized that the legal framework of South Sudan already prohibits the marriage of minors and the coercion of individuals into marriage. Abdelbagi noted that the government intends to ensure citizens understand that these actions carry legal consequences, including arrest and prosecution. The Service Cluster chairperson linked the elimination of these practices to the success of educational initiatives. By enforcing the law, the government aims to reduce the number of girls dropping out of school due to domestic pressures. “These things are crimes in South Sudan,” the Vice President added, reiterating the stance of the leadership on protecting the rights of children and students.