May 1st 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) said on Tuesday that South Sudan’s government is not willing to establish justice for victims of war crimes committed during the five-year old South Sudan conflict.
Based on a revitalized peace agreement signed in September 2018, the parties were to cooperate with the African Union in establishment of the court in accordance with Chapter five of the revitalized peace deal but the UN Security Council said in a report published on Tuesday that there is a limited political to establish justice.
Chapter 5 of the revitalized peace agreement provides a sound basis for the delivery of justice, the promotion of reconciliation and the provision of reparations for victims, including by harnessing and adapting South Sudan’s rich customary institutions.
“There appears to be limited political will to hold accountable those who bear
responsibility for violations documented during the protracted conflict in South
Sudan,” partly said the UN report obtained by the Nyamilepedia.
The report said victims and relatives of those killed during the five-year old civil war expressed frustration and hunger over the delayed justice as well as addressing gross human rights abuse during the conflict.
“In multiple interviews and discussions, survivors, their families, community
leaders and civil society representatives have expressed frustration and anger at the
delays in establishing the hybrid court in accordance with chapter 5 of the revitalized
peace agreement, as well as the delays in addressing the many documented gross
abuses committed during the conflict, including the deliberate targeting of civilians,
abductions, rape and other sexual violence, looting and the destruction of civilian
property,” said the UN report.
A recent study estimated excess deaths resulting from the conflict in the country to be close to 400,000, with almost half of those lost lives directly attributable to violence.
