ADDIS ABABA – Barney Afako, member of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, today commenced a five-day visit to the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Commission’s visit follows President Salva Kiir’s assent to two laws in the past week, marking a significant milestone towards the establishment of a Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing, and the Reparation Authority for addressing legacies of violations and the needs of victims and survivors.
In September 2024, South Sudan’s leaders extended for another two years the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, raising concerns about their commitment to completing the political transition. The African Union and IGAD are among the main guarantors of the Revitalized Agreement.
Commissioner Afako and members of the Commission’s Secretariat will meet with officials of the African Union Commission, its Peace and Security Council, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. They also plan engagements with the Inter-Governmental Development Authority (IGAD), regional and international diplomatic corps, and civil society and humanitarian actors.
The African Union has a crucial role in providing political accompaniment to South Sudan, and mobilising financial and technical support, to address the persistent delays that have impeded effective implementation of the peace agreement.
The Commission will share its investigative findings and recommendations on the fulfillment of South Sudan’s human rights obligations, including holistic, citizen-driven and survivor-centered implementation of transitional justice processes.
While enabling laws have now been enacted for the Truth Commission and the Reparation Authority, urgent steps are still required for establishing the Hybrid Court for South Sudan and strengthening domestic criminal justice systems.
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Background: The Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan is an independent body mandated by the United Nations Human Rights Council. First established in March 2016, it has been renewed annually since. Its three Commissioners are not UN staff, they are not renumerated for their work as Commissioners, and they serve independently in their capacity as experts. They are supported by a Secretariat based in Juba, South Sudan. The Commission is mandated to investigate the situation of human rights in South Sudan and to make recommendations to prevent a deterioration of the situation, with a view to its improvement. The Commission is also mandated to determine and report the facts and circumstances of human rights violations and abuses, including by clarifying responsibility for crimes under national and or international law. The Commission’s findings are informed by independent interviews conducted with victims and survivors of human rights violations, as well as witnesses, service providers, and related experts and stakeholders.
