The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) experts on Monday warned that deeply disturbing violence is escalating all over South Sudan, reported The UN News.
According to the UNHCR in South Sudan, women and girls continue to be gang-raped and survivors have been described as zombies, physically and emotionally dead.
In an alert, Commission chairperson, Yasmin Sooka, said that it was critical for the international community to monitor the country’s peace agreement, along with other reforms including of the armed forces and the constitution.
The UNHRC noted that transitional justice bodies are urgently needed in South Sudan, as per an agreement made four years ago by the country’s Government.
The 2018 peace deal ended South Sudan’s civil war, which killed over 400,000 people and displaced millions. The deal led to the formation of a power-sharing in a unity government inaugurated in February 2020, with Mr. Salva Kiir as president and Mr. Riek Machar as vice-president.
Many conditions agreed in the 2018 agreement have not yet been implemented, partly due to ongoing disputes between the two rivals.
The UNHRC panel noted that none of the three proposed transitional justice bodies agreed in 2018, namely the Commission on Truth, Reconciliation and Healing, the Hybrid Court or the Compensation and Reparation Authority, have been created so far.
“Without these steps, we are likely to see millions more South Sudanese displaced or crossing borders, creating havoc for neighbouring countries and aid agencies,” Ms. Sooka said.
The UNHCR said the conditions must be peaceful for a national poll to happen and South Sudanese people who have questioned the government or exposed atrocities have received death threats, been detained or tortured.
Last month, parties to the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement for South Sudan signed onto a further two-year extension of the transitional governance arrangements, postponing elections until late 2024. As of now the shape of the electoral system remains undefined.
