South Sudan peace monitoring body lauds formation of judicial reform committee

JUBA – South Sudan’s ceasefire monitoring body, the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), has lauded the formation of the ad-hoc Judicial Reforms Committee (JRC) describing it as a key milestone in the implementation of the 2018 peace deal.

Speaking at the official inauguration of the committee in Juba on Thursday, R-JMEC Interim Chairperson Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai said the formation of the JRC will lay a firm foundation for the future of the Judiciary in South Sudan.

“As a committee mandated to study and recommend appropriate judicial reforms to the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU), the work of the JRC will lay a firm foundation for the future of the Judiciary in the Republic of South Sudan.”

“The Judiciary is an important third arm of government and an effective, independent, and impartial judiciary is sine quo non for lasting peace, stability, and democratization,” he said.

Gen. Gituai said despite the slow pace in the implementation of the Peace Agreement, the launch of the JRC is very timely.

“It comes on the heels of the enactment of the Constitution Making Process Bill by the Parliament and the ongoing National Constitutional Amendment Committee review of the National Elections Ac.”

He added, “It also comes at a time when the R-TGoNU is developing a roadmap for the implementation of all critical pending tasks towards credible elections at the end of the Transitional Period.”

A retired Kenyan military officer appealed for full support for the JRC so as to carry out its mandate as stipulated in the Revitalized Peace Agreement.

“We must all lend our support politically, technically, and of course financially for the JRC to do its work within the stipulated timelines,” he said.

The 12-member committee is headed by Justice James Ogola, Principal Judge Emeritus of Uganda.

The committee chaired and deputized by representatives from IGAD also comprised members of the SPLM, SPLM-IO, SSOA, FDs, and OPP.

The committee is mandated under the 2018 peace deal to review the judiciary act and build the capacity of judicial, personnel, and infrastructure within 6 months period.