Rights experts say a peaceful transition in South Sudan is crucial, amid ‘tremendous suffering’

“The suffering across the country remains enormous,” Commissioner Barney Afako said at a news conference in the capital, Juba. “South Sudanese women and girls continue to face unspeakable sexual violence.”

On the final day of the five-day visit, the Commission gathered reports from civil society and stakeholders in Juba and Upper Nile states, where the United Nations operates the Common Protection sites. People are currently scrambling to house tens of thousands of newly arrived fugitives. violence.

Before the end of their eleventh national visit on Saturday, experts said they had meet survivors of human rights abuses, civil society, ministers and senior government officialscivilian judges, military judges, diplomats, UN agencies and the UN Mission in South Sudan (MISS).

‘Reset’ towards peace

Against a backdrop of grim suffering, the Commission said South Sudan’s political leaders must now seize the opportunity to reset the country towards peace, democratic transition and prosperity.

“Without changing the approach, the transition will falter” said Mr. Afako. “Political leaders must reorient their priorities and work together to end this needless violence and protect the human rights of South Sudan.”

‘Horrible account’

“We still shocked by sexual violence and repeated attacks against civilians,” said Commissioner Andrew Clapham. “The stories of survivors are terrible. Many of the people the Commission met were attacked again and again. Simultaneously, those responsible for the crime of free walking.”

humanitarian agency in the areas recounted their struggle to provide needed support to the large numbers of people seeking shelter, hobbled by limited funding and supply route is not safe.

Victims and survivors about violence in the upper Nile stories of malicious attackswith scared families hiding in the bushes for days before having to walk for miles to safety, the Commission said.

Narrowing the civil space

Civil society leaders and other observers told the commissioners that political and civic space in the country continued to shrink.

During the past year, the Commission has noted wide-ranging attacks against civilians in several states, including the southern state of Unity. At the same time, conflicts in Upper Nile State and northern regions of Jonglei State were involved many armed groupswith widespread attacks against civilians.

The United Nations Human Rights Commission in South Sudan continues to document human rights abuses.

chronic exemption

Meanwhile, extrajudicial killings continued, involving high-ranking State officials, who enjoyed immunity even when the crimes were caught on camera.

“Committee continue to identify individuals responsible for serious crimes according to both South Sudanese and international law,” Mr. Clapham said.

established by the United Nations Dong Nhan Quyen Association In 2016, the Commission was tasked with providing factual information. It is keeping a secret list of names while collect and preserve evidence against them to share with transitional judicial mechanisms such as the mixed court to be established under the 2018 peace agreement.

“We will identify a number of individuals responsible for certain events [and] I hope the Government will take steps to hold them accountable,” Mr. Clapham said.

Limited transit time

The committee warned that there was little time to make a political transition. Outstanding Key tasks include established a united national armydraft a structureAnd create a transitional justice mechanism.

Another concern, the Trustees said, is that international interests have weakened and need to be restored to support these processes.

In 2023, estimated 9.4 million won the most vulnerable will need urgent lifesaving support and protectionUN humanitarian office (OCHA) was reported in December.

There was almost a five-year delay in fully implementing the 2018 deal. In August, the parties agreed to a two-year extension of transitional governance arrangements, postponing planned elections to the end of the year. 2024.

Afako said the Commission warned South Sudan a year ago that it was at a “tipping point”, given the very limited time left to implement key parts of the peace deal.

Many works to do

“Although the transition period has now been extended, much work remains to be done to advance the peace process,” he said. “The people of South Sudan are looking forward to seeing their leaders have greater energy and determination in addressing human rights,” he said.

The committee will present its findings to the United Nations Human Rights Council in March.