South Sudan suspends diplomat involved in alleged rape in US

By Benjamin Takpiny

JUBA, South Sudan (AA) - South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said Thursday it suspended a diplomat that was involved in an alleged rape in New York City.

“The leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation took the decision to immediately recall the diplomat in question, pending a full investigation from a specialized committee,” it said in a statement.

It reiterated the government’s position that sexual misconduct in any form is heinous and wholly unacceptable.

“As a government we have worked tirelessly since our inception to ensure that the rights of women and girls are protected”

It said that the mandate of foreign missions is to protect the interests of South Sudanese citizens abroad and to promote strong relations with host countries.

“It is regretful that in this alleged instance, the latter has been jeopardized,” it said. “We are committed to working closely with the relevant US authorities to take the appropriate action, following the outcome of all investigations”

Career diplomat Charles Dickens Imene Oliha, 46, was arrested Sunday following an alleged sexual assault in Manhattan, according to the New York Daily News newspaper.

The alleged victim reported to police at 11 p.m. Sunday that a man opened her building’s front door and followed her into her apartment at about noon that day and raped her twice.

The woman was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Oliha, who was assigned by South Sudan to the permanent UN mission, was taken into custody by police but he invoked diplomatic immunity, which authorities confirmed was valid.​​​​​​​