South Sudan Minister Urges Civil Society to Speak Truth, Stay Away from Politics in Transitional Justice Process

The Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Martin Elia Lomuro, has issued a stern warning to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), urging them to refrain from engaging in political activities and to prioritize truthfulness as South Sudan advances its efforts to establish a transitional justice mechanism.

Speaking at the launch of a workshop focused on setting up the transitional justice framework, Minister Lomuro emphasized the importance of honesty and integrity in the process. “Some of you here are politicians but pretend to be civil society,” he remarked. “It is time to speak the truth, and this process should not be mixed with political agendas.”

The minister highlighted the need for the justice mechanism to include reputable members and faith-based organizations to ensure transparency and prevent corruption. He stressed that the goal is to deliver just compensation and reparations to communities most affected by the brutal conflict that engulfed the country from 2013 to 2016.

“Reparations should be directed towards communities that suffered the most, such as those impacted by destroyed schools, hospitals, and infrastructure,” Lomuro explained. He underscored that the transitional justice initiative is a key component of the revitalized peace agreement, which guarantees war victims the right to seek justice and reparations for damages incurred during the conflict.

The establishment of this mechanism aims to promote reconciliation, accountability, and healing for a nation striving to move past years of violence and instability.