South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG) has called on the transitional government of national unity to activate the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing (CTRH) and to establish a hybrid court.
Lony Ruot, chairperson of the Transitional Justice Working Group, emphasised the need for the implementation of transitional justice mechanisms as outlined in the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.
Ruot also expressed deep concern over mounting tensions that threaten the stability of the peace agreement, adding that concrete progress on truth-seeking, accountability, and reparations is a possible option for achieving sustainable peace.
“There is an urgent need to operationalise key transitional justice institutions, particularly the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing (CTRH), and to initiate steps towards establishing a Hybrid Court for South Sudan,” said Ruot in a statement.
Ruot urged the Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) to halt hostilities and engage in inclusive dialogue in line with the spirit and letter of the revitalised peace agreement as part of creating a conducive environment for implementing transitional justice mechanisms.
Ruot revealed that the Transitional Justice Working Group calls for the timely allocation and disbursement of sufficient funding for the establishment of the CTRH and the Compensation and Reparation Authority (CRA).
Ruot stated that the TJWG emphasised the importance of placing victims and survivors at the centre of transitional justice efforts, ensuring full inclusion of women, youth, and marginalised communities in both the design and implementation phases.
“Delays in the operationalisation of transitional justice mechanisms impede the pursuit of truth, accountability, and healing, undermining the reconciliation process, trust and confidence building, and the attainment of durable peace in South Sudan,” he said.
“We urge partners to honour their commitments and ensure that justice is neither delayed nor compromised. Transitional justice is not a peripheral concern; it is a cornerstone of sustainable peace, national healing, and public trust in governance.”
The Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG) held a dialogue attended by government representatives, civil society, and international partners, including the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), to assess the status, challenges, and way forward in advancing transitional justice in South Sudan.
