By Bida Elly David
President Salva Kiir has reiterated government’s commitment to expedite establishment of the long-awaited Hybrid court for South Sudan as provided for in the Revitalized Peace Agreement.
Kiir made his vow on Monday 15th May 2023 at the opening of a conference on Transitional Justice Mechanism being held, in Juba.
The peace pact signed in South Sudan which subsequently brought the 2013, 2016 violence to some quell, came with it a commitment made to constitute an African Union-backed Hybrid Court for South Sudan (HCSS) to investigate, prosecute war crimes and other human rights violations committed in the conflict.
However, the establishment of the hybrid court has slid behind schedule, 10 years after the signing in 2015, the first peace agreement.
President Kiir echoed that the government has not turned its back on the establishment of the court, saying that delays on the accomplishment of the bill have impacted its implementation.
He admitted that despite human right violations and abuses being on the rise in South Sudan, the law would soon take its course against perpetrators, as soon as the court is established.
“We are not shying away from the establishment of the hybrid court of South Sudan which is part of chapter five of the agreement on transitional justice and accountability,” said Kiir.
“When the time comes for the enactment of the bill for the hybrid court for South Sudan, the ministry of justice and constitutional affairs and African Union will update us accordingly,” he continued.
The president pitied the impact of the conflict on the economy and lives of the people as thousands died and millions displaced. He vowed not to take the nation back to agony.
“As I said several times, I will never take South Sudan and its people to war again,” he stressed.
President Kiir also acknowledged division of people along ethnic line as another trending factor that affected the legacy of the liberation struggled.
He stated that for the conduct of credible and fair elections, parties to the agreement through his leadership will speed up implementation of the remaining mechanism.
“In order for us to consolidate peace and even to conduct free, fair and credible elections, we must enact the law for the establishment mechanisms,” he noted.
On the same account, the president considers speedy formation of the commission for truth, healing and reconciliation to give room for healing wounds through reconciliation.
“It was for this reason that the revitalized agreement on the resolution of conflict in South Sudan provided for chapter five on transitional justice and accountability. I consider this as a very important chapter” he remarked.
He noted that the pre-transitional justice mechanisms provided under chapter five are the commissions for truth, reconciliation and healing, compensation and reparation authority and the highbred court of South Sudan.