Five men gave the biggest offers for the bride
An incredible story saw the light of day in South Sudan, starring a 17-year-old girl who was auctioned off by her family on Facebook. Five men fought to get the "virgin bride", as her family called her, including a high-ranking government official.
The auction took place on August 9 and the winner was the businessman Kok Alat, who on November 9 married the girl, thus acquiring another wife, the ninth in a row.
According to a representative of the charity Plan International, the girl's father received in exchange 500 cows, three large cars and 8.600 euros.
Eastern Lakes State Deputy Governor David Mayom Riak was one of the bidders, but the offer of 250 cows was not enough to convince the father to give him the 17-year-old. "I know the family very well because we are neighbors. "I promised my family that I would marry her when she was still young," she told Radio Tamazuj.
Facebook downloaded the post that the family had made for the auction, while it also banned one of its members.
A spokesman for the popular social networking site told Reuters: "Any form of human trafficking is not allowed on Facebook."
The issue has naturally provoked strong reactions from human rights organizations.
"This barbaric use of technology is reminiscent of the slave market of today," said George Otim, head of Plan International in South Sudan. "The fact that this girl was sold for marriage on the biggest social media site is unbelievable," he said. to this girl. "It's like an item being sold to someone who is prepared to offer the most money and the most goods."
Monica Adhiue of the National Alliance of Women Lawyers in South Sudan called the auction "shocking and sad" on Voice of America's "South Sudan in Focus" show, adding: "This practice is a gross violation of human rights and a violation of human rights. the rights of the girl ".