South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
The Executive Director of the Centre for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), Ter Manyang Gatwech, has called for the swift implementation of Chapter five of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.
Speaking on Monday at the opening of a two-day workshop aimed at raising awareness about Chapter five, Manayang said that implementation of chapter five which focuses on the establishment of the Commission for Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation, the Compensation and Reparation Authority, and the Hybrid Court, has been significantly slow.
“On September 3rd, 2024, the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) passed both the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing Bill 2024 and the Compensation and Reparation Authority Bill 2024. These bills are now awaiting the signature of His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit to become law,” he said.
Manyang disclosed that civil society organizations are working hard to raise awareness about the significance of these bills, as many South Sudanese are still unfamiliar with their content.
“A large number of South Sudanese citizens are unaware of these important legislations. This lack of understanding creates a major challenge for both the government and civil society when it comes to effectively communicating the roles of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing (CTRH) and the Compensation and Reparation Authority (CRA) to the public,” he said.
Manyang emphasized that Chapter five of the peace agreement is not just for community leaders or civil society organizations, but for all the people of South Sudan, adding the public should own this process.
Meanwhile, the Head of Program for South Sudan at the International Center for Transitional Justice, Agatha Ndonga expressed optimism about the potential impact of recent training sessions.
“By the end of this training, I trust that South Sudan will have ambassadors of transitional justice who deeply understand the significance of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing (CTRH) and the Compensation and Reparation Authority (CRA),” she said.
Agatha said that the training goes beyond just an understanding of these bodies, as it includes understanding why they are essential for South Sudan, how to engage with them, and how to monitor their operations.
She stressed the importance of inclusivity in the appointment process, particularly considering gender representation.
“We all understand that strong leadership can determine the success or failure of these institutions,” Agatha said.
“We need to ensure South Sudan embarks on a genuine path to reconciliation, healing, and national unity, which will help prevent further violence and human rights violations. This is the only way we can achieve lasting peace in South Sudan,” she noted.
Chapter five of the 2018 peace agreement calls for the establishment of the commission for truth healing and reconciliation, compensation and reparation authority and establishment of the hybrid Court for South Sudan and the commission to document the human right violations.
