South Sudan: Proposed Hybrid Court Not in the Interest of Peace

A South Sudanese official described the creation of a “Hybrid Court" to try those responsible for mass killings and other human rights violations in the country’s conflict counterproductive.

South Sudanese Information Minister Michael Makuei said setting up such a court at this time will impede the ongoing, but elusive peace process.

“This is an unfortunate statement, especially at the time when we are in search for peace.  The most appropriate situation would have been to work for peace first, bring peace and, after peace, then you make people accountable.  Now it seems that the Secretary is putting the cart before the horse,” he said.

In an interview Monday in Nairobi with the Juba-based Eye Radio, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States would provide $5 million to kick-start the court.

“In very practical terms, I announced today that we are putting $5-million into the effort to develop a justice and accountability system for what is happening in South Sudan.  We believe that these terrible, atrocious things that are happening to people – the rapes, the killings, the disappearances, the level of violence is really questionably a violation of warfare, and we need to have accountability,” Kerry said.

Kerry called on South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir, and former Vice President and rebel leader Riek Machar to “come to their senses” by signing an agreement that’s real and stop using their people as pawns.

He said the lack of peace may lead to sanctions against individuals, not the whole country.

Makuei denied the government has been holding the people hostage by its unwillingness to reach a peaceful settlement with the rebels.  He said negotiation for peace is a process and not an event.

“It is unfortunate that people are fast in reaching that conclusion and saying that the parties have failed to reach an agreement.  If we had failed, we would have not been continuing talking.  So, we have not failed to reach peace, but we are in the process,” Makuei said.

He accused those in the international community who are insisting on a swift end to the conflict as having hidden motives other than bringing to South Sudan.

Makuei said the Juba government supports the IGAD-led peace negotiations, but he accused “other institutions” of trying to impose some of their positions or opinions on IGAD and the African Union.

He said the South Sudan government is in search of a durable and lasting peace, and those who want to force the government to reach peace by all means necessary are only interested in trying to isolate the government.