Human Rights Watch African Director attributed the devastating offences of the conflict in South Sudan to the lack of justice for brutal crimes during the long civil war.
Daniel Bekele in a letter addressed to mediators on Sunday said ‘South Sudan’s peace talks should proceed on the basis that justice for serious crimes is an essential part of any peace agreement’.
He urged the mediators to ensure that there is no amnesty for those responsible for serious crimes committed in violation of international law.
The Director said the memory of crimes committed during the civil war and the lack of accountability helped fuel the current crisis.
Mr Bekele said ‘the talks should address needs of victims and the importance of justice to long-term peace and security for South Sudan’.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan in its May report said there are ‘reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed during the conflict by both Government and opposition forces.’