CEPO calls for speedy formation of human rights advisory council in South Sudan

By Tapeng Michael Ohure
South Sudan government should expedite the formation of an inclusive national human rights advisory council, Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) said Tuesday.
The call comes as members of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan started their ninth visit to the East African nation.
The three-member Commission is chaired by Yasmin Sooka. Other members of the commission include, Barney Afako and Andrew Clapham.
“Community Empowerment for Progress Organization welcomes the visiting UN Human Rights experts, hoping that their visit will contribute to the actualization of transitional justice mechanisms in South Sudan,” Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of CEPO said in a statement.

In his New Year’s message, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir said the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) would establish a Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH) by end of January.

“We will be embarking on the process of establishing the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing (CTRH) by the end of January 2022,” President Kiir said, adding “It is important to initiate this process so that our people can know the truth about what took place during the war and use it as the basis for peace building, reconciliation, and social stability”.
According to Yakani, beginning the transitional justice process in South Sudan offers great opportunity to transform society from violence to peace.
“It is essential that the political leadership of the country take serious primary responsibility for making the transitional justice in South Sudan real and without any form of restrictions. Delivering timely political commitment and a genuine realization of transitional justice is paramount,” he stressed.
Chapter V of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) deals with Transitional Justice and the establishment of mechanisms to promote accountability, truth, reconciliation and healing in South Sudan.