Opinion: Call for a new committee of Inquiry on Leer violence

Press statement,

April 15, 2022 —On 13th April, 2022, South Sudan President, Salva Kiir constituted a six-man investigation committee to find-out the root causes and key perpetrators of Leer violence. We however regret to note that the President has squandered another opportunity to do the right thing as required of him by the constitution and the laws of South Sudan.

 Nonetheless, we applauded the President for responding quickly to the calls for the establishment of the investigation committee on Leer Violence. 

Having stated that, we call for the formation of a new investigation committee before the recently established committee started their work in vain.

The main reasons are as follows;

First, the committee was made up of politicians, who will not produce any report, and by any chance if they do, it is going to be a political report and not an evidence-based report. This is due to our long history where politicians failed to conduct and produce criminal investigation reports in South Sudan. 

In 2016, the President formed an investigation committee to prove the killing in Wau town. He then appointed a politician and then Health minister, Dr. Riek Gai Kok, to chair it. But up to now, we have never heard from him until he was sacked as a minister.  

In 2014, the President appointed senior politician and now vice president, Dr. James Wani Igga, to chair an investigation committee on Jonglei violence. Since its appointment, we have not heard from this committee again. 

On 15th February, 2022, the President issued an order appointing an eleven-member investigation committee to prove Aneet market killings. This committee under the chairmanship of the Vice President Hon. Husein Abdel Baggi is often seen engaging in political rallies in and around Warrap State and Northern Bahr El ghazal states. These instances prove that a politicians-led investigation committee will not deliver any report.

Second, the Leer investigation committee chairperson and minister of water and irrigation, Hon. Manawa Peter Gatkuoth is alleged to have married in Leer County. Apparently, marriage being a factor in relationship can make him be unfair to the accused persons from other counties, and

Third, the chairperson of the committee is also the spokesperson of the SPLM-IO, and by virtue of the fact that one of the victims of Leer Killing is the deputy chairperson of SPLM-IO in Unity state, he could be biased. It is for these reasons that we call for the disbandment of the politicians-led committee on Leer killings. 

WAY FORWARD

First, His Excellency the President should suspend the three commissioners of Leer, Mayendit and Koch, who are alleged to have been involved in the killing before appointing the new committee. It is not reasonable to launch a successful investigation against suspects who are still holding powerful offices particularly in the areas where the crimes were committed.

Second, the President should disband and appoint another committee composed of the five credible and senior members representing the Civil Society, South Sudan Bar Association, Catholic Church, Judiciary and South Sudan National Security Organ. The politicians and representatives of the political parties should not be part and parcel of this investigation committee, for reason/s that they will apparently display their respective party interests by way of covering up and concealing information that will incriminate their party members. 

Signed by;

Dak Buoth Riek-Gaak

Chairman, Liech Community Association in Kenya

Dated in Nairobi on this 15th Day of April 2022