Gov't to launch public consultation for establishment of truth commission next week

South Sudan Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Reuben Madol Arol, addressing the press in Juba on 31 March 2022. [Photo: Radio Tamazuj]

The government has announced that national public consultations that will inform legislation for the establishment of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH) as envisioned in the 2018 peace agreement will be launched next week. 

Addressing the press today in Juba, the minister of justice and constitutional affairs Reuben Madol Arol said a technical committee tasked to prepare for the consultations had completed its tasks.

"I have invited his excellency, the president of the republic to launch the national public consultation, the outcome of which will form the basis for the enactment of legislation for the establishment of the CTRH in accordance with the provisions of Article 5.1.1 of the R-ARCSS," he said.

"I, therefore, invite your excellencies the vice presidents of the republic, national ministers, state governors, diplomatic corps, IGAD, RJMEC, AU and representatives of UN organizations in South Sudan to attend the launching at Freedom Hall on Tuesday the 5th of April 2022 at 10 am," he added.  

Madol pointed out that the government reiterated its commitment to establishing transitional justice mechanisms by requesting the justice ministry to take the necessary steps for establishing the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing to investigate and document patterns of human rights violations and causes of the conflict in South Sudan.

"The R-TGoNU by resolution on the 24th January 2021 triggered the implementation of Chapter 5 and mandated the ministry of justice and constitutional affairs to establish a technical committee in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 5 article 5.2.1.3 of the R-ARCSS to conduct a national consultation which was launched by his excellency the First Vice President of the republic and chair of the governance cluster on 30th June 2021," he said. 

Chapter 5 of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan, R-ARCSS calls for the establishment of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH); a Hybrid Court for South Sudan (HCSS) and a Compensation and Reparation Authority (CRA).

According to the agreement, the public consultations are expected to take a period not less than one month prior to the establishment of the CTRH. The consultations shall ensure that the experiences of women, men, girls and boys are sufficiently documented and the findings of such consultations incorporated in the resultant legislation.