S. Sudan committed to hybrid court for war crimes: official

September 5, 2016 (JUBA)- South Sudan government under the leadership of President Salva Kiir has assured visiting members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that it would cooperate with the African Union (AU) in expeditious formation of the hybrid court to try individuals accused of war crimes in the world’s youngest nation.

As part of the joint communique issued after a meeting between the UNSC delegation and President Kiir in Juba, the hybrid court will be formed once the AU provides other details.

“The Transitional government of national unity signals it readiness to implement chapter five of the agreement on the resolution of the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan – including to work with the African Union setting up the hybrid court for South Sudan as soon as the African Union provides proposal for the its work as provided for in that agreement,” said South Sudan’s cabinet affair minister, Martin Elias Lomoro.

Lomoro said this while reading a prepared statement to reporters in Juba on Sunday.

Chapter V of the Peace Agreement signed in August 2015 to end 21 months of conflict between government and SPLM in Opposition forces required accountability for the war crimes and other human rights abuses committed during the war.

The armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) leader and former first vice president Riek Machar supports the formation of hybrid court but President Kiir appears to avoid setting up of the court in op-ed article published by New York Times in May this year.

The AU Commission of Inquiry established in early 2014 found that both sides to the conflict committed crimes including rapes, targeted killing and forced disappearance.

(ST)