September 6th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – The Amnesty International, an advocacy group, has welcomed the decision by South Sudan Military Court to sentence rape convicts of the Teran Hotel to a prison term.
South Sudan government on Thursday sentenced two SPLA soldiers to life in prison and eight others to a period ranging from seven to ten in prison.
The group’s director for East Africa, Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes Region, Seif Magango said the new development set a good precedent for future rape perpetrators.
“After much foot dragging, today’s convictions and sentences represent a first step towards ending chronic impunity in South Sudan, where both government forces and the armed opposition have committed human rights violations and crimes under international law, with complete disregard for human life” he said.
Seif pointed out that the sentencing of the suspects will lead to wider prevalence of justice in South Sudan and will ensure that the long-awaited setting up of Hybrid Court as agreed upon in the Agreement on Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan is materialized.
“These convictions must lead to the crucial next step of ensuring justice for all crimes committed in the ongoing armed conflict by, first and foremost, setting up the much-delayed Hybrid Court for South Sudan agreed in 2015,” he said.
The group further urges the Government to keep up the good work, and end impunity committed by the SPLA soldiers against civilian populations in the country.
“South Sudanese leaders must keep up the momentum towards ending the climate of impunity in the country,” he said.
South Sudan troops loyal to the government of Salva Kiir in 2016 broke into Teran Hotel in Juba and raped, killed and looted the hotel which was a home to international aid workers.
