S. Sudan right body says AU report will aid peace implementation
October 29, 2015 (KAMPALA) – South Sudan Human Rights Society for Advocacy (SSHURSA) has welcomes release of the final report of the African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan (AUCISS), which found that atrocities were committed by both warring parties in the country’s over 20-months conflict.
“As the realities of atrocities exposing, though series of denials and counter denials would likely surface, the report would however, partly contribute to smooth implementation of the signed peace agreement,” SSHURSA said in a release.
The rights body, however, the contents of the 318-page report and its consequential effects, should be managed within the context of making paradigm shift towards a democratic federal Republic of South Sudan.
“It would be in the interest of peaceful South Sudan to implement the findings of this report though consecutively. SSHURSA calls on warring parties, other stakeholders and international partners to use the report to cement the implementation of peace agreement,” it added.
The AUCISS report, further stressed the human rights body, would be a significant toward establishing and strengthen the institutions of governance which will help prevent the documented atrocities and use of state’s machinery by individuals to dismantle South Sudanese socio-political fabrics as alluded in its numerous recommendations.
“As soon as the transition period being stipulated in signed peace agreement starts, the setting up of the hybrid court of South Sudan, commission for truth, reconciliation and healing as well as compensation and reparation authority is eminent and should be prioritized,” it argued.
The right body called on South Sudanese to use the report as a starting point to forge a new era of truth, peace, unity and sense of humanity with a resolve never to cause such harms to each other or any of their neighbours.
Both warring factions involved in the South Sudanese conflict committed war crimes in the country’s capital, Juba, Bor, Bentiu and Malakal towns, the AU probe team noted.
Most of the “indiscriminate” and “unlawful” killings of civilians or soldiers in Juba were, however, allegedly committed by element of South Sudanese security forces.
“These attacks resulted in massive killings in and around Juba. The people killed were either found during the house to house search or captured on roadblocks,” partly reads the report.
The commission, headed by former Nigerian leader, Olusugen Obasanjo said there are reasonable grounds to believe war crimes of rape and torture were committed against civilians in and around Juba, citing evidences that point to state security involvement.
“The evidence collected also suggests that war crime of forced enlisting of children in the army were committed,” it stressed.
(ST)