African Union announces S/Sudan war crimes court

The African Union (AU) says a special court will be set up to try war crimes suspects in South Sudan, which has been hit by a brutal conflict since 2013. The move is aimed at promoting an “African solution” to the conflict in the world’s youngest state, which became independent in 2011, it said. An […]

The African Union (AU) says a special court will be set up to try war crimes suspects in South Sudan, which has been hit by a brutal conflict since 2013.
The move is aimed at promoting an “African solution” to the conflict in the world’s youngest state, which became independent in 2011, it said.
An inquiry has found that both government and rebel forces have committed atrocities, the AU added.
Despite the signing of a peace deal last month, conflict has continued.
The formation of the court is part of the deal President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar signed following intense diplomatic pressure from regional leaders, reports the BBC’s Emmanuel Igunza from the AU headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.
Thousands have been killed in the fighting over the last 21 months and more than 2.2 million people forced from their homes.
South Sudan does not recognise the International Criminal Court (ICC), which investigates atrocities in member states or if a case is referred to it by the UN Security Council.
The AU is also extremely critical of the ICC, accusing it of failing to operate impartially – a charge it denies.
A special court, set up by Senegal with the AU’s backing, is currently trying Chad’s former President Hissene Habre for alleged atrocities committed during his rule.
The South Sudan court will use a mix of international and South Sudanese law.