The South Sudanese government opposes the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Human Rights Commission on its territory, stressing that it “undermines the sovereignty of the country”.
According to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Rubén Madol Arol, the latest report of this Commission contains « allegations recycled from previous reports dating back to 2013 ».
“The Commission report also omitted the dates and places where the alleged human rights violations took place, aware that such an approach makes any meaningful response from the government impossible,” laments this member of the government.
The UN Human Rights Commission in South Sudan said on Tuesday before the Human Rights Council that impunity is one of the main drivers of humanitarian and human rights crises. in that country, which continue to cause immense trauma and suffering to civilians.
“Senior civil servants and army officers must be held accountable for the serious crimes they have committed or we will never see an end to gross human rights abuses,” said Andrew Clapham, one of the three Commission experts.
The Commission’s report is based on investigations carried out in the country during 2022. It documents widespread attacks on civilians, systematic sexual violence against women and girls, the continued presence of children in the fighting forces and state-sponsored extrajudicial killings.
“Attacks against civilians persist precisely because their perpetrators are sure to enjoy impunity,” Clapham continued.
The Commission’s findings describe multiple situations in which state actors are the primary perpetrators of serious crimes under domestic and international law.
Members of non-state armed groups are also identified as the perpetrators of violent crimes perpetrated in various conflict zones.
Another Commission expert, Barney Afako, said that “long-delayed constitution-making and elections are slated for the next 18 months, but the civic space needed to make them meaningful has all but disappeared.”
Given the persistence of violence in the country, the challenge of promoting peace and human rights in Southern Sudan is very heavy. The attention and support of the international community must not wane, maintains the Commission.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1079 of 08/03/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
