Press Statement of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on preventing the relapse of South Sudan into conflict (05.11.2019)

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), through its Country Rapporteur for South Sudan, Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, has been following with concern the challenges facing the implementation by the parties, of the September 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

The Commission expresses its serious concern about the imminent risk of relapse of the country into violence, which would certainly lead to another round of death and displacement of civilians. While only a few days are left before the deadline for the formation of the revitalized government of national unity and the start of the transitional period on 12 November, progress has not been made in the implementation of two key pre-transitional tasks, notably security arrangements and the number of states as well as internal boundaries of states.

The Commission deplores the intransigence and lack of concern of the parties to the R-ARCSS in relation to the plight of the people of South Sudan, leading to the absence of a consensual timeline and the requisite minimum conditions for the formation of a stable government of national unity by the current deadline.

The Commission notes with concern the disagreement between the parties to the R-ARCSS (namely the Government of South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO)) on the formation of the revitalized government of national unity by the deadline of 12 November 2019. While one side is inclined to proceed with the plan of forming the government of national unity by 12 November, the other has called for the resolution of the dispute over the implementation of the two key pre-transitional tasks before the forming of the government of national unity and extension of the 12 November deadline.

The Commission is particularly alarmed that the inevitable disagreement that will result from formation of the government of national unity before progress is made in respect of the two key pre-transitional tasks, will create conditions that jeopardise the lives and peace of the South Sudanese people.

In light of the above, the Commission:

  1. Strongly urges the political leaders in South Sudan to place the protection and promotion of human rights of the South Sudanese people at the centre of all negotiations towards sustainable peace and development;
  2. Reminds the Government of South Sudan and the SPLM-IO as parties to the R-ARCSS that the right of all peoples to national and international peace and security under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights entails that they bear primary responsibility for the peace of South Sudanese;
  3. Urges the parties to avoid resort to unilateral measures that endanger the peace agreement and push the country back to violent conflict, and to this end, to engage constructively to achieve meaningful progress in respect to the two key pre-transitional tasks; and
  4. Calls on the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in collaboration with the African Union and others supporting the South Sudan peace process to facilitate consensus between the South Sudanese parties on the number and boundaries of states and for a mutually agreed timeline for the unification of their armed units into a unified army, as necessary steps for preventing recurrence of armed violence and the ensuing violations of the rights of South Sudanese, including women and children.

Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, Chairperson of the African Commission

Commissioner Rapporteur for the Republic of South Sudan and Focal Person of the Commission on Human Rights in Conflict Situations

South Sudan Women’s Coalition for Peace (SSWCP) Open letter to General Gabriel Jok Riak: Violence Against Woman in South Sudan must cease (04.11.2019)

South Sudan: Civil Society Forum deeply concerned that parties have not completed Implementation of critical pre-transitional tasks as November 12 deadline looms (01.11.2019)

Kenya: Office of the President – Ministry of Interior & Coordination National Government – Press Release – Update on Operation at the Civil Registry Department (01.11.2019)

South Sudan: Humanitarian Coordinator condemns killing of three aid workers (30.10.2019)

South Sudan: Office of the President letter to Minster of Finance Salvatore Garang Mabiordit – Subject: Cancellation of the allocation of 18 Crude Oil Cargoes to M/S General Trading LLC (28.10.2019)

Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan: Office of the Archbishop and Primate – The Implementation of the Peace Agreement (26.10.2019)

Opinion: Kinda hard to agree or disagree over a BBI Report, when its not public yet…

It is a strange world, when the social media frenzy over something that is yet to be published or made public. The whole Building Bridges Imitative might have finished their work and left their tools in the shed. But their work and the results of whatever they did isn’t all public yet. There might be some shocks and some surprises. Who knows, if not it’s a dual family dynasties and the lingering political elites who continues pushing their agendas on the public.

What we do know. Its to early to discuss the parameters, the finer details and the proposals of the report, when its not public. Its not yet dropped for the public to digest. It is like speaking about a food joint, knowing the possible menu, but never popped by to try it. They might serve something you have heard off, but you cannot be for certain how it tastes or how good service they have. Before you enter the building and actually try the meal out. Than, you can discuss if it was burned, was melting on your tongue or if it average meal of unga.

Because at this point, it is mere speculations, words of mirages and fallacy. As long as the report is not there. Than, the Odinga and Kenyatta can play the crowds and claim all kinds of stuff. They can say whatever they feel like it. Ruto can confess to murders there for all we know, but that is maybe totally wrong too. Right?

Since, the BBI report can be a body building index or a bloody blatant incentive just a foil the public away from the problems at hand. Instead, focus on bogus attempts to justify the peace treaty made between Uhuru and Raila, as the handshake deleted the opposition and their powers to test the government. Therefore, the report is continuation of that and a preparation of the stages to another dynasty takeover in the next election in 2021.

Who knows right? It will just be words and simple rhetoric mounting to nothing. This might be like the flawed acts of Dr. Ekuru Aukot and others. A man who has been lost at sea and trying to configure and make himself relevant in manners of things.

Now we are here at this junction, we can decide, which way to go. But what we do need to know. Is that this report is only vibrant and alive, if they release it to the public. Until then, it’s a dead fish swimming in the water. It is not alive and kicking it. Unless, there are mere words about what it contains. Which could be anything or nothing. It could be gold, but it could be a fraud too. We just don’t know. Because, how can we?

There is nothing to assess, nothing to discuss, just words put into a blender and hoping that it taste sweet in the end. This might be a dream, might be nightmare, might even be a road to redemption. However, right now, we just don’t know. Peace.

South Sudan: SPLM/A-(IO) Press Release – Re: On the Position of the SPLM/A-(IO) Regarding Extension of the Pre-Interim Period (24.10.2019)

Kenya Tea Development Agency: KTDA Position Statement (24.10.2019)