UN and South Sudan agree on trial of displaced persons

May 05, 2015 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese government and the United Nations mission in the country (UNMISS) have agreed to have civilians internally displaced persons in the UN-manned protection of civilians sites tried for crimes committed or face prosecution.

The country’s justice minister, Paulino Wanawila said various crimes ranging from murders, rapes, thefts and hooliganism were recorded at UN sites, but these cases needed the cooperation of legal experts.

“The South Sudanese penal [code] will be applied to them if it is found they committed acts that amount to offences,” he said after meeting Moustapha Soumare, the deputy chief of UNMISS on Tuesday.

“We have agreed that those people who are there are South Sudanese”, he stressed.

Soumare said the deal would be implemented through the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), a core document that details UNMISS and government co-working relations.

“We have agreed and we yet have to define and device what are the most appropriate mechanism which is going to be in line not only with the SOFA, but also fully in line with South Sudanese laws,” he said.

Hundreds of civilians are still being protected at UN protection of civilian locations in Juba, Bor, Bentiu and Malakal since the conflict broke out in December 2013.

(ST)