The army Chief-of-General Staff Paul Malong has warned SPLA soldiers against committing atrocities on civilians.

He made the statement on the state run SSBC TV at the SPLA General Headquarters yesterday, while addressing the army.

This comes a few weeks after the UN reported some 120 rape cases allegedly committed by both men in military uniform and unknown men in plain clothes.

General Malong strongly stated that violence such as rape, lootings and other forms of misconduct by the army will be punished.

He said the image of the army has been stained by such misconduct.

“You are the national army of this country, try to respect everybody in this country and provide them with security. But if you do not respect them, they will simply decide to join whoever is fighting you, so try your best to respect them,” he stated.