By Kei Emmanuel Duku
United Nations Human Rights Commission on South Sudan has criticized the “Green Book” used in Warrap State to address communal conflict and cattle raids.
Commissioner Carloz Castresana Fernandez asserted that the “Green Book” has entrenched gross human rights violations.
Its selective application targeting specific communities has inflamed communal conflict and undermined the rule of law, he added.
Castresana stated that the book has rendered judges in the state ineffective, as justice has been transferred from the judiciary to unaccountable officials and soldiers conducting illegal executions.
The “Green Book,” adopted in December 2023 under former Governor Kuol Mour, included resolutions for executions of cattle thieves and those who kill road travelers and civilians.
“Its unlawful measures must cease,” said Castresana. “The government must also fund Warrap authorities to strengthen the justice system, enabling community violence to be addressed through the rule of law, including interim measures like mobile courts.”
Commission Head Yasmin Sooka revealed that over 100 perpetrators of human rights abuses have been identified nationwide.
These individuals will be handed over to the prosecutor of a future hybrid court and the Commission on Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation, once established.
Sooka argued that the Compensation and Reparations Authority Act is one of the sole mechanisms for citizens to seek justice without interference, ensuring future criminal accountability.
She called for judicial reform and the deployment of judges, prosecutors, police, and penitentiary services countrywide, not just in the capital, for speedy trials.
“Impunity is entrenched, and lawlessness prevails,” said Sooka. “In Warrap State, with only one judge serving six counties, justice remains inaccessible.”
Commissioner Barney Afako noted that South Sudan is awash with arms, contributing to conflict in Warrap and other states. He emphasized the role of a truth and healing commission in addressing conflict drivers, including resource disputes and power competition.
Afako described the countryside as a “lawless territory” where human rights violators go unpunished, perpetuating violence.
The experts urged the government to cooperate with the African Union in establishing the High Hybrid Court, essential for addressing serious offenses since December 2013.
“This court is crucial for transitional justice,” said Afako, “as reconciliation and reparation require identifying the main perpetrators.”
Afako stressed that the hybrid court’s selection process must be transparent and credible.
He also called for the government to allocate sufficient resources for the Truth Commission and reparations in the 2025 and 2026 national budgets. Citizen safety must be guaranteed for participation in these mechanisms.