Ben Wilhelmi

People, South Sudan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Sudan, people

 

the situation doesn’t get better in that war-torn country, thanks to the lousy corrupt and incompetent leaders. The staggering number of 1.5 million refugees has been hit, out of a population of 12 million!

You can’t expect much hope from a government that forcibly recruits child soldiers…

 

But people there, well mostly women, seemed to be hoping for peace, to live a normal life considering the effort put in fashion and hairdos.

 

 

You’ve got to pinch yourself sometimes when those stunning creatures come out of the middle of shitty nowhere… High heels were common sightings.

 

and some guys were quite into fashion too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This girl couldn’t be my copilot, my flying precision would have suffered as a result…

Random pictures, South Sudan

 

Now I got your attention, right?

 

Normally we carry these in the cargo pod. I had it once that the VIP’s party security guys were threatening  and adamant that these things would go inside. The thing is quite long and had to be stored pointed at me…great feeling. I told the boss I wouldn’t do the return flight in those conditions. It worked, the security guys must have been told off because they were polite and accommodating suddenly.

 

This weekend in Malakal, 89 boys have been abducted by masked cowards. They searched house to house and any boy over 12 was targeted…sad. According to Unicef, there are 12000 child soldiers in South Sudan. Government and rebels deny any implication, for once they agree on something.

This picture was shot in Gurumuk a while ago but  last week, good news, 289 child soldiers were freed there. Maybe this kid was amongst them. I hope he hasn’t seen and done too many horrors.

 

The status of a woman runs quite low especially in war times. This women association was not spared in some rebel attacks in Ayod. That bullet hole seems to add insult to injury, what a symbol.

 

Travelling in a military convoy across the bush.

 

A soldier is getting ready to dance.

 

But there is beauty in South Sudan! Women tend to dress well, to love colors and artistic patterns.