JUBA – Former United Nations Commissioner on Human Rights in South Sudan Kenneth Scott and the international justice organization Guernica 37 have filed a request at the International Criminal Court (ICC) seeking probe into alleged war crimes in South Sudan.
The announcement was made in a 108-page submission (plus annexes) in which they asked the ICC prosecutor to examine “the massive deportation” of more than one million South Sudanese into northern Uganda, as a crime against humanity.
They are seeking, on behalf of thirty-one South Sudanese victim-survivors and others, an extensive ICC inquiry into atrocities, crimes against humanity and war crimes in, and concerning, South Sudan and the tragic conflict that commenced in December 2013 and continues today.
The war crime of ordering the displacement of a civilian population, and other related and connected crimes, including widespread killing and sexual violence.
“The South Sudanese people deserve better than this,” said Kenneth Scott. “They deserve justice, as an essential, important step on the path to a stable, peaceful, more prosperous country.”
“South Sudan Government a Stumbling Block to Justice for Victims of Crimes against Humanity,” he added.
Witnesses are more than willing to tell their stories — they just have to be asked. Mr. Scott concluded: “Peace and justice are two sides of the same coin. In South Sudan, we need to give justice a chance. And really mean it.”
“There is clear evidence that crimes against humanity and horrible war crimes have been committed, and excuse after excuse, delay after delay, impunity after impunity cannot be tolerated,” said Guernica 37’s Toby Cadman.
“There is a legal and evidential basis for opening a preliminary examination in relation to the situation in South Sudan — more than that, there is an obligation to do so,” Cadman added.
Cadman added that “In a conflict that has lasted more than six years and has seen more than a million and a half civilians take refuge across international borders and more than two million internally displaced, there is a demand that victims see justice.”
