Olesegun Obasanjo to lead South Sudan inquiry on human rights abuse

Obasanjo’s was chosen at an African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council summit in Banjul, Gambia on December 30 last year, where the AU chairperson was requested to create the commission. Various civil societies working in South Sudan see the commission of inquiry as an important first step towards understanding the nature of the atrocities committed during the conflict.

Local civil societies consider say the commission could “help set the stage for future efforts to secure justice and accountability through national, regional or international mechanisms”. At a press briefing on Friday in Addis Ababa, AUC chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said the commission is composed of five people with “solid experience,” including people from rights and gender equality activists and academia.

Human Rights Watch says both pro and anti-government armed forces are responsible for serious abuses that may amount to war crimes in two key oil hubs in South Sudan during recent fighting. The group claims its researchers found that armed forces from both sides have extensively looted and destroyed civilian property, including desperately needed aid facilities, targeted civilians, and carried out extrajudicial executions, often based on ethnicity.

However, Dlamini-Zuma said now was the time to act. “I have held consultations and now indeed we have come to the point where we think that we are ready to execute the Banjul decision of our heads of state and government and I will then announce the names of the team that constitutes this South Sudan commission of inquiry,” she said. The selected commission is expected to submit its first report to the Peace and Security Council of the AU within three months.

Copyright The Africa Report 2014