Kei Emmanuel Duku
United Nations Human Rights Commission for South Sudan pays five-day visit to Kenya to advance regional partnership in human rights and accountability for human rights violations in South Sudan.
Led by Chairperson Yasmin Sooka and member Barney Afako, the commission is meeting with senior Kenyan government officials, civil society groups, and representatives of international organizations.
During their visit, the commission will discuss modalities of Kenyan support for South Sudan’s transition to a democratic country.
They will emphasize the importance of regional backing, particularly from Kenya, as a guarantor of the peace and transition process.
The commission will also advocate for strong support for South Sudan’s efforts to establish a reliable and independent judicial system, as recommended by the Judicial Review Commission.
This includes the establishment of effective and impartial institutions capable of upholding the rule of law and human rights across the country.
While in Nairobi, the commission intends to meet with various stakeholders involved in the ongoing Tumaini Initiative peace talks.
They will urge the parties to incorporate transitional justice measures into the talks to ensure accountability, truth-telling, and redress for victims.
The commission noted the importance of preventing the deterioration of the situation in South Sudan and consolidating the role of justice and accountability in the peace process.
Despite the ongoing Tumaini Initiative peace talks, the absence of key groups like the National Salvation Front led by General Thomas Cirilo Swaka remains a significant challenge to achieving sustainable peace in South Sudan.