US concerned over reports of abductions in South Sudan

Michael J. Adler, US Ambassador to South Sudan. [Courtesy image]

The United States Ambassador to South Sudan has expressed concern over reports of abductions and recruitment of child soldiers in the country. 

Ambassador Michael J. Adler, in a statement on Friday, called on South Sudanese leaders to urgently end subnational violence and hold accountable those involved in human rights abuses. 

"In South Sudan, we are gravely concerned about reports of women and children being abducted, including within the context of subnational violence. We are equally concerned by continued reports of the recruitment and use of child soldiers," the statement reads in part. 

"We renew our call for South Sudan’s leaders to act with urgency to end subnational violence and to hold accountable those responsible for abductions and for all other forms of human rights violations, including child soldier recruitment," it reads. 

According to the statement, the United States dedicates the month of January to raising awareness about human trafficking and reaffirms the importance of commitment throughout the year to end human trafficking, which constitutes one of the worst categories of human rights violations.