By Lodu William Odiya and Nakwam Rose
Activists raise concern over United States’ decision to deport eight individuals described as “top criminals” to South Sudan.
US Supreme Court on Thursday allowed Donald Trump’s administration to send a group of eight immigrants with serious criminal records to South Sudan.
However, Executive Director of Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), Ter Manyang Gatwech, described the move as undermining South Sudan’s sovereignty.
“This decision raises serious concerns about the violation of South Sudan’s sovereignty and the principles of international law,” he said.
Ter said, South Sudan as a sovereign nation, should not be a recipient of individuals without proper legal and diplomatic coordination.
“Deporting criminals to South Sudan without prior consultation or agreement undermines the norms of international cooperation and the integrity of South Sudan’s judicial system,” he stressed.
CPA urged South Sudan government to seek clarification from the United States regarding the legal basis and rationale behind this ruling.
He also emphasized the importance of communication to ensure that the country’s sovereignty and international rights are upheld,” he said.
“We call on both the United States and South Sudan to engage through appropriate diplomatic channels to resolve this matter in accordance with international human rights standards and mutual respect,” he said.
Executive Director of Community Empowerment Organization for Progress (CEPO), Edmund Yakani, on his part noted government’s role but questions the basis of deporting criminals to the country.
“We are aware with full respect that our government takes constitutional responsibility for our safety and protection, of course; we don’t underrate that, and we don’t undermine that. But we are concerned. Is there any deal for receiving these deportees that have committed high-level crimes in the US?” he asked.
Yakani stressed that the life of every South Sudanese citizen is equal to the life of every American citizen, adding that the US government has concern towards the safety and security of its citizens, as does the government of South Sudan.
“If there’s any deal reached, we need transparency towards the deal between Juba and Washington, D.C., over the issue of the deportees, because these are individuals that have committed crimes of a high level,” he highlighted.
According to Yakani, credible information shows that some of these deportees had served their sentences in the court or their punishment by the law of the US.
“Why are they again to be deported to South Sudan after they have faced the consequences of the law in the US?” Edmund asked.
However, South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has not yet said what will happen to the deportees on their arrival.
The high court’s nameless order came days after a majority of justices allowed the administration to deport certain migrants to countries other than their homeland with little notice.
Last month, in a broader ruling that was unsigned and offered no reasoning, the court paused a trial judge’s order that had barred the administration from deporting migrants to countries other than their own, unless they had a chance to argue that they would face torture.