After advancing the 2023 Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing
Bill and the Compensation and Reparation Authority Bill from second to third
readings, the national parliament is scheduled to submit them for final
readings next week.
On Wednesday, Hon. Bona Deng Lawrence, chairperson of the standing
specialized Committee on Peace and Reconciliation, tabled the two bills before
the august house for second readings before passing them to the third reading.
“It is important to note that these bills were supposed to have been tabled
three months after the agreement, but it is better late than never. They have
been tabled today,” said Hon. Oliver Mori, spokesperson for the parliament.
According to the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, the transitional justice
legislations were supposed to be enacted by May 2020, three months after the
formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity.
The laws required the establishment of the institutions within three months,
but the peace deal's implementation has progressed slowly.
President Salva Kiir launched nationwide public consultations in 2022 to
establish the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing, two years
after the formation of R-TGoNU.
Oliver Mori, the TNLA spokesperson, emphasized the need for reconciliation
in South Sudan, stating that due to the conflicts of 2013 and 2016, which led
to destabilization, deaths, and property loss of property, the population of
South Sudan needs reconciliation.
He further expressed that people have wronged each other and that there is a
need for reconciliation and forgiveness among the people of South Sudan.
“Starting from our top leadership to the grassroots and even starting with
us here as members of the Parliament, that reconciliation is needed, and people
really need to move to the grassroots to talk to them about the importance of
reconciliation,” Mori stated.
While commissioning the bills for the third reading, Speaker Jemma Nunu
Kumba also echoed the importance of the bills given what South Sudan went
through.
“The bills are indeed very important. Reconciliation and healing are very
important because we know where we are coming from and what we have been
through. There is a lot of trauma and bitterness. So, this bill is very
important for truth and reconciliation,” Nunu underscored.
“The compensation is also important; I could hear from you that everybody
feels they have lost something. So, it will be redefined who really deserves
the compensation.”
The speaker directed the committees on Peace and Reconciliation, Human
Rights and Humanitarian and Legislation and Justice to finalize the review of
the bills and table them for final approval in the next sittings.
“These laws are important, and I urge the committees to work quickly on
them, and then next week, we need to present them for third and final
readings,” Nunu directed.
These laws, once enacted, will guide the establishment of the three key
justice mechanisms, which are the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and
Healing, the Hybrid Court for South Sudan, and the Compensation and Reparation
Authority.
The laws will promote prosecution and reconciliation, as well as collaborate
with local justice systems to restore trust, peace, and unity among the South
Sudanese.
