The Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO) has warned that the country will not recover from violence unless it engages in genuine narratives, healing, and reconciliation.

In a press release obtained by The City Review yesterday, CEPO Executive Director, Edmund Yakani, stated that ‘‘honest political will is essential for allowing the country to engage in restrictive truth-telling, reconciliation, and healing’’.

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“The social fabric in South Sudan is seriously broken by the 2013-armed violence. So, without proper engagement on truth-telling, healing, and reconciliation, the pathway for the country’s recovery and transition from violence to peace will not be possible,” Yakani noted.

His statement came after President Salva Kiir Mayardit revealed that his government would establish a Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing (CTRH) by the end of January 2022, so that the people could know what happened during the war and never repeat the same mistakes as they focus on peacebuilding and reconciliation.

Yakani stated the establishment of the CTRH is a long-awaited task of the peace agreement under Chapter 5. ‘‘CTRH is an essential process for regaining public trust and confidence for a successful political transition from violence to peace,’’ he noted.

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He appealed to President Kiir to direct the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to identify relevant international partners who will assist in the establishment of the Compensation and Reparation Authority (CRA). The ministry is also expected to establish the National Human Rights Advisory Council that will engage the African Union in the establishment of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan.

“Effective transitional justice engagement is key for building a better future for South Sudan and regaining peace and stability,” he said.

He also urged President Kiir to declare observation of restricted freedom of expression and access to information, including a demonstration of political commitment.

He said that without restricted civic space for activists, the media, and other stakeholders; it would be harder to generate genuine engagement in a successful transitional justice process across the country. 

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“We are calling for the establishment of an inclusive National Human Rights Advisory Council,’’ he revealed.

CEPO welcomed the information on the establishment of the CTRH by January 2022, saying “it is a remarkable move and a good response to our advocacy through the 9-point request issued on December 29th, 2021”.

The organisation welcomed President Salva Kiir’s decision to resume the negotiations with the holdout groups.

This came after Kiir ordered the resumption of the Rome peace talks, which involved the government and the South Sudan opposition alliances.

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The directive broke a four-month-long lull after he unilaterally suspended the talks, citing a violation of the ceasefire deal, and accusing the holdout groups of conducting attacks that led to the brutal murder of Catholic nuns along the Juba-Nimule road on August 16, 2021. Yakani said the government’s decision means political differences cannot be resolved with guns.