Gov’t told not to panic on formation of Hybrid Court

JUBA, MARCH 3, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – A South Sudan civil society watchdog has assured the government not to panic on the formation of the Hybrid Court provided for in the revitalized peace agreement, saying that its formation doesn’t necessarily mean that certain leaders will be prosecuted.

This comes after the minister of cabinet affairs Martin Elia Lomuro said while speaking during a RJMEC meeting in Juba on Thursday that the establishment of the hybrid court is in limbo because the court plans to use the AUCISS report instead of a government report in which it accused some current senior officials of coup attempt.

“The process awaits guidance from the African Union as provided for in article 5.3.1.1 of the agreement. And I want to say this is not an easy process because, in the agreement, the main document to be used for the Hybrid Court is the report of the former president of Nigeria (Obasanjo),” he said.

“The Government of South Sudan has challenged that report and so the owner of the report might have to go to court to justify the claims. Every country that has gone through our same challenges like Gambia, South Africa, Rwanda, and many others will be invited before mid-March,” Lomuro added.

In a statement, the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) warned government officials against efforts to undermine formation of the peace court over fears of being dragged to the it, saying it doesn’t necessarily target certain individuals.

“CEPO is kindly urging the political leaders not to fear the idea of he Hybrid court for South Sudan in he chapter 5 of the R-ARCSS,” the civil society watchdog said in the statement a copy of which was extended to Sudans Post this afternoon.

“The Hybrid court for South Sudan is not necessarily aiming at handling too political leaders for accountability and justice purpose but also the Hybrid court for South Sudan have benefits for our legal system in the terms of capacities of legal actors and legal institutional capacity building,” it added.

Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of CEPO stressed the importance of the Hybrid Court, saying that peace will only be elusive without accountability for crimes committed during the deadly civil war which has killed nearly half a million people.

“It is essential to promote accountability and justice without reservations. Yes, we can our owned justice and accountability approach but since the parties have already agreed for Hybrid Court for South Sudan it is essential to do some tasks that are associated with the Hybrid Court of South Sudan. Transitional justice in chapter 5 of the R-ARCSS cannot be deliver in selective manner at all,” Yakani said.

“It is high time for the political parties and leaders to be role model for forgiveness, reconciliation, accountability and justice in the country. The political transitional process will be successful without proper transitional justice process, Yakani stressed.

The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization further appealed to “the political leaders to compromise for timely and genuine implementation for the transitional justice in accordance to the provisions of chapter 5 of the R-ARCSS.”