October 21st 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – A South Sudan civil society consortium has called for the speedy establishment of the Hybrid Court for victims of war crimes in the world’s youngest nation.
The country descended into civil war in December 2013 after thousands of civilians in the capital Juba were killed by a militia group allegedly set up by President Salva Kiir and associate to boost declining army.
In September 2018, a revitalized version of a 2015 peace agreement was signed by the government and opposition groups. The agreement provided for the establishment of the Hybrid Court to try war criminals.
In a statement issued on Sunday, The Network of South Sudan Civil Society Organizations in Uganda (NoSSCOU), a consortium of South Sudanese civil society organizations in the neighboring country, said victims of crimes committed during the six-year conflict won’t accept reconciliation without first the accountability.
“For victims to accept the reconciliation in South Sudan there is need for Hybrid Court for South Sudan to be established by African Union,” the group said in a statement extended to Nyamilepedia.
“It’s our belief that the proper understanding of chapter five will help citizens to support the peace implementation smoothly.
“The Hybrid Court for South Sudan has jurisdiction over the question of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious crimes under international law and relevant South Sudan laws; eg: gender based crimes and sexual violence.
“For instance the international criminal tribunals such as the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Ysgoslavia and Rwanda, the International Criminal Court, in an effort to assist their investigative and accountability processes.”
