The African Union (AU) Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan has embarked on a 10-day mission to the country amidst renewed violence in parts of the country’s oil rich regions.<\/p>\n
The field mission is an effort to end the three-month political conflict.<\/p>\n
The first violence broke out in South Sudan in mid-December last year, following an alleged attempted over-throw of the Salva Kiir-led administration.<\/p>\n
The alleged over-throw was carried out by the ruling Party’s (SPLM\/A), an opposition group led by former Vice President, Reik Machar.<\/p>\n
The violence continued unabated in some parts of the country leaving hundreds of thousands dead with no fewer than one million others displaced.<\/p>\n
The displaced are reported to have taken refuge in neighbouring countries of Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan and Kenya.<\/p>\n
Renewed violence broke out on Thursday last week in Bentiu, an oil rich region between the two factions, killing more than 120 persons, who had taken refuge in a mosque.<\/p>\n
According the UN officials in the Juba, hundreds of others escaped into bushes and neighbouring villages.<\/p>\n
The Obasanjo-led AU Commission of Inquiry arrived in Juba on Monday night, a statement by the AU media relations said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Listed as members of the inquiry are Prof. Mahmood Mamdani, Ms. Bineta Diop, Prof. Pacifique Manirakiza and Lady Justice Sophia Akuffo and AUC technical support team.<\/p>\n
According to the statement made available to NAN in Addis Ababa, the commission would hold consultations with President Salva Kiir and other top government officials including the Speaker of Parliament.<\/p>\n
Consultation will be held with the Deputy Speaker, Defence Minister, Ministers of Security, Interior, Gender and Child and Social Welfare.<\/p>\n
The commission is scheduled to also meet with the Commander of the Presidential Guard and Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS.<\/p>\n
The Commission will also meet with former Vice President Riek Machar and the opposition group.<\/p>\n
“It will conduct wide-ranging meetings with stakeholders including the Chairman of South Sudan Human Rights Commission, Chairman of National Assembly Human Rights Committee and Civil Society Alliance.<\/p>\n
“Others are the Chairman of South Sudan Committee for National Healing, Peace and Reconciliation, Church leaders and the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation, among others.”<\/p>\n
The commission was established by the AUC Chairperson, Dlamini Zuma, on March 6 in pursuant to a decision of the 411th Meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council.<\/p>\n
The meeting, consisting of Heads of State and Government was held in Banjul, the Gambia on Dec. 30, 2013.<\/p>\n
NAN reports that the commission is tasked with the responsibility to investigate the human rights violations and other abuses committed during the armed conflict in South Sudan.<\/p>\n
This is with the aim to guarantee healing for sustainable peace and security and ensure accountability in an effort to restore peace.<\/p>\n
The commission is expected to submit its report within a period of three months to the AU Peace and Security Council. <\/p>\n
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