Bring justice to victims of Unity State extrajudicial killings, Yakani tells gov’t

JUBA – South Sudan’s prominent activist and Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) Edmund Yakani has urged the government to bring justice to victims of crimes committed against citizens in Unity State and Kajo-Keji County of Central Equatoria.

This comes after a high court in the country’s Eastern Equatoria state sentenced to death by hanging a 24-year-old man implicated in the grim killing of the a local community chief which sparked protest in Nimule town in July this year.

In a statement extended to Sudans Post, Yakani welcomed the ruling and urged the government to create necessary conditions for the judiciary to carry out its work to deliver justice to victims of crimes committed by members of the army and opposition groups.

“It time to see similar justice and accountability provide for the crimes recently committed in Leer county on civilians murder, Mayom County where alleged rebels were executed in an extrajudicial manner and Kajokeji county for the army’s murder of two siblings,” Yakani said.

Earlier this year, fighting in southern Unity State razzed parts of Leer and Mayendit counties with militia groups allied to government-appointed commissioners of Koch, Mayendit and Leer counties killing dozens of innocent civilians including women.

Also in July, rebel forces belonging to South Sudan People’s Movement/Army led by General Stephen Buay Rolnyang attacked Mayom town gruesomely killing the commissioner and 12 other members of the organized forces there and also wounding a woman and her daughter.

The government responded by killing four opposition figures believed to have been participate in the killing of the commissioner. One officer identified as Gatluak Majiok was burned alive in the same manner the commissioner was killed while three others were executed by firing squad.

In June, soldiers belonging to South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) murdered three civilians including two siblings.

In the statement, Yakani urged the government and the judiciary to refrain from ‘selective provision of justice’ and said there was need for the government organs to “demonstrate that justice sectors of the country is functional and free in delivering justice and accountability on matters of violation of the existing laws of the country.”