Teenage South Sudan Girl Sold Off on Facebook for Marriage

The girl was sold off to a businessman who emerged the highest bidder, with $10,000 and about 500 cows.

(Photo: iStock)

A teenage girl in South Sudan was auctioned off for marriage on Facebook by her parents. A businessman emerged as the highest bidder, outbidding the likes of Sudanese government officials, Reuters reported.

A picture of the 17-year-old girl was shared on Facebook on 25 October. The post said that five men were participating in the auction for her dowry.

The highest bidder was a businessman who reportedly gave the girl’s father over 500 cows, three SUVs and $10,000 for getting to marry the girl.

The Reuters report said that the girl was married off on 3 November.

Activists have raised concerns that this could encourage other families to use social media to demand bigger dowry for their daughters.

The country director of Plan International South Sudan, George Otim was quoted by Reuters as saying that the fact a girl was sold off for marriage on the world's largest social network is beyond belief.

People have also called for the authorities' response on the same as well, as some of the bidders in the auction were said to be government officials.

Facebook has taken the post down and the user who posted the ad has also been removed.

The company said that any kind of content pertaining to any posts, pages, ads or groups that co-ordinate this kind of activity are not allowed on Facebook.

(With inputs from Reuters)