Human rights groups call for establishment of Hybrid Court in South Sudan

October 14, 2016 (JUBA) – International human rights bodies have called for establishment of a Hybrid Court in the war-ravaged South Sudan in accordance with the August 2015 peace deal and the resolution of the African Union, saying the ongoing fighting in the new country should not be used as an excuse to delay trials for those who have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Amnesty International and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) in a joint briefing on Thursday, said continued fighting in South Sudan which erupted again on 8 July must not derail justice for crimes committed during the deadly conflict that began in December 2013.

The organizations are calling on the African Union (AU) Commission and the South Sudan government to urgently establish the proposed Hybrid Court for South Sudan (HCSS).

“Thousands have been killed, women raped, entire villages destroyed, and humanitarian personnel attacked. But as world attention has focused on ending the fighting, accountability for violations that could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity has been put on the back burner,” said Netsanet Belay, Amnesty International’s Africa Director for Research and Advocacy, in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

“Justice must not be delayed any further. Fresh violations should give added impetus to efforts to form the Hybrid Court,” the statement said.

The peace agreement signed by both parties in August 2015 provides for the formation of the court to investigate and prosecute those bearing criminal responsibility for the atrocities, but little progress has been made towards setting it up.

They said the Hybrid Court – which will combine elements of both domestic and international law and be composed of personnel from South Sudan and abroad – currently represents the most viable option for ensuring accountability for crimes committed during the conflict, as well as for deterring further abuses.

In the briefing, the organizations make 17 recommendations to ensure the court effectively achieves accountability in accordance with international fair trial standards. The recommended priorities include: “Establishing an investigative branch to ensure evidence is collected and preserved in an appropriate manner; Establishing an independent victims and witness protection unit; Ensuring that victims’ rights to participate in the proceedings are guaranteed, the inclusion of South Sudanese judges and staff on the court and exclusion of the death penalty as a possible sentence.”

The human rights bodies also recommended that if security concerns prevent the court from being based in South Sudan, it should at least be located within the region.

They said the crimes should not go unpunished, adding that bringing the criminals to justice will help in ensuring sustainable peace in South Sudan.

“Atrocities endured by civilians in South Sudan, which the African Union has documented, must not go unpunished. The establishment of the Hybrid Court is necessary, not only to address human rights violations and abuses and crimes under international law, but also as a pillar to achieving sustainable peace,” said Arnold Tsunga, FIDH Vice President.

“The AU should build on its experience of the recent trial of former Chadian President Hissène Habré in Senegal to set up the Hybrid Court for South Sudan,” the statement said.

South Sudan became an independent country on 9 July 2011 after decades of war, lengthy negotiations and a referendum to secede from Sudan. Two and a half years later, in December 2013, armed conflict broke out between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those allied to his deputy, Riek Machar.

In August 2015, the two parties agreed a peace deal and later formed a transitional unity government with President Kiir at the helm and Machar as first of his two deputies.

Renewed fighting broke out on 8 July, 2016, with heavy clashes in the capital, Juba, and other parts of the country. Machar has since been replaced as First Vice President and fled the country after his residence was attacked.

About 2.6 million South Sudanese have fled their homes since the outbreak of fighting in 2013, with some 1.6 million internally displaced and another one million living as refugees in neighbouring countries.

(ST)