Garang’s widow decries deferral of AU report on conflict

February 16, 2015 (JUBA) – The widow of South Sudan’s late leader, Rebecca Nyandeng has decried the African Union’s decision to delay the release of a report it commissioned to investigate crimes committed during the country’s ongoing conflict.

“It’s unfortunate South Sudanese have [been] left alone. Nobody is paying attention to their suffering. The IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development] has instead of addressing root cause of the conflict, decided to focus on power sharing. This has overshadowed addressing the real issues and prolongs the suffering of our people”, Nyandeng exclusively told Sudan Tribune on Monday.

The ex-presidential aide said the AU should have released the report to help people identify perpetrators of the violence for justice and accountability to take its course.

“The African Union has decided to delay justice and prolong the suffering of our people. That report should have been released,” she said. “The Arusha approach should have been adopted by the regional mediators to bring to an end the devastating conflict.

Nyandeng’s concerns come days after South Sudan welcomed the deferral of the release of the report, arguing that it would undermine the IGAD-led peace negotiations.

ACTIVISTS CONCERNED

Several human and civil rights activists say deferral of the AU findings was a deliberate attempt to delay justice and encourage impunity.

David Deng, a South Sudanese researcher, said the decision not to publish the report effectively negates any contribution it could make to the transitional justice agenda.

Anthony Sebit, a Juba-based analyst, said releasing the AU commission of inquiry report would allow the perpetrators of violence to be identified.

“It is unfortunate the African Union has decided to listen to voices that encourage impunity. Releasing the report would be the opportunity to know the perpetrators,” said Sebit.

“The report was the opportunity to find out what the truth is. Our people ought to know the perpetrators. They had placed hope and trust in the sincerity of the commission,” he added.

Formed in March last year, the five-member commission of inquiry led by former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo investigated crimes committed during the crisis.

Thousands of people have died and nearly two million displaced in the ongoing conflict that is likely to cost the young nation between $22-28 over the next one to five years.

(ST)