S. Sudan cabinet meeting approves establishment of hybrid court to try war criminals

JUBA – A South Sudan cabinet meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday agreed to the establishment of the long-awaited hybrid court provided for in the revitalized peace agreement to try war criminals, according to a senior government official.

The hybrid court is provided for in chapter five of the Revitalized Agreement for Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (or R-ARCSS) signed by longtime foes – President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar  Teny – in September 2018.

The formation of the important court  has been delayed and the United Nations and other international bodies have accused the government of South Sudan of intentionally delaying the establishment of the court as senior government officials and military commanders are implicated in civilian targeting on several occasions.

Speaking to reporters in Juba on Friday following the weekly cabinet meeting, information minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth said the cabinet has directed the minister of justice to begin the process of establishing all the institutions as provided for in the power-sharing agreement.

“[The] Cabinet authorized Justices Minister to start the process of establishing all these institutions in accordance with the provision of the peace agreement,” Makuei said following the meeting chaired by Kiir and attended by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny who is a long-time advocate for the timely formation of the court.

The establishment of the  hybrid court is an important step in the implementation of the agreement as it provides a pathway to building sustainable peace based on the recognition that it can only be achieved through accountability for serious international crimes, truth recovery about past violations and underlying structural causes of political violence, as well as the restoration of dignity to South Sudanese citizens.