As South Sudan’s people and leaders prepare for the upcoming national elections in December, there is still much to be done to help communities recover from the impact of continuous violence.
Respecting human rights, upholding the rule of law, and establishing stronger accountability mechanisms are more essential now than ever before.
In Western Bahr El Ghazal, South Sudan, the slow progress in implementing transitional security arrangements as outlined in the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement has affected the rule of law and referral processes for serious criminal cases. This has led to difficulties in holding perpetrators accountable and ensuring the rights of all citizens are protected.
To address this issue, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) held discussions with senior military personnel from the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Army-in Opposition (SPLA-iO) in Wau to raise awareness about their human rights responsibilities.
Major General Peter Ngoli, deputy commander of the SPLA-iO Division 6A, acknowledged the importance of protecting the rights of all citizens, regardless of ethnicity, and emphasized the need to work in accordance with the country’s laws.
A forum attended by military commanders and officers focused on issues such as ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid, preventing arbitrary arrests, and respecting the rights of suspects.
The discussions also aimed to establish procedures for referring serious human rights violation cases to courts in Wau.
UN Human Rights Officer Leopold Kouassi highlighted the responsibility of commanders to comply with the law and emphasized the progress made in establishing appropriate procedures for handling serious criminal offenses.
The engagement marked a significant step towards reconciling the parties involved in the peace agreement, with plans for further discussions and collaboration to strengthen justice institutions across Western Bahr El Ghazal.
Senior commanders made a verbal commitment to ensure the protection of citizens and respect for their rights, urging community members to report any concerns and assuring them that cases will be handled in accordance with the law.
UNMISS will continue to facilitate dialogues and enhance capacity building initiatives to support the rule of law and accountability in South Sudan.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).