By Matik Kueth
The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan will travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on November 18, 2024, to discuss transitional justice with African Union leaders.
The visit follows President Salva Kiir’s approval of laws establishing the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing and the Reparation Authority to address past violations and support survivors.
Led by Barney Afako, the delegation will meet AU officials, IGAD, diplomats, civil society, and humanitarian organizations to advance these efforts.
“The African Union has a crucial role in providing political accompaniment to South Sudan and mobilizing financial and technical support to address the persistent delays that have impeded effective implementation of the peace agreement,” the statement read in part,
“The Commission will share its investigative findings and recommendations on the fulfillment of South Sudan’s human rights obligations, including holistic, citizen-driven and survivor-centered implementation of transitional justice processes.”
It emphasized that while enabling laws have been passed for the Truth Commission and the Reparation Authority, urgent efforts are still needed to establish the Hybrid Court for South Sudan and enhance domestic criminal justice institutions.
The 2018 peace deal requires the AUC and the government of South Sudan to establish a hybrid court in the country to investigate and prosecute people suspected of committing crimes since the conflict began in December 2013.
Since the inception of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU), little has been said regarding chapter 5 of the peace accord, which mandates the establishment of the court.
Even though South Sudan’s leaders have extended the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan for another two years, in September 2024, doubts about their commitment to completing the democratic transition remain.
The Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan is an independent body mandated by the United Nations Human Rights Council and mandated to investigate the situation of human rights in South Sudan and to make recommendations to prevent a deterioration of the situation, with a view to its improvement.
It is also mandated to determine and report the facts and circumstances of human rights violations and abuses, including by clarifying responsibility for crimes under national and or international law.
However, its findings are informed by independent interviews conducted with victims and survivors of human rights violations, as well as witnesses, service providers, and related experts and stakeholders.