Human Rights Watch says South Sudan’s leaders should use their visit to Vatican to recommit to human rights.
It points out that the spiritual retreat should provide an opportunity to build trust among them.
The leaders should use the opportunity of the Vatican meeting to make a clear, public commitment to holding those responsible for these crimes to account, recognizing this is a key component of lasting peace.
They should also ensure the South Sudanese public has the unfettered right to debate these issues, which means reigning in abusive national security service from targeting critics and activists for arrest and detention.
Human Rights watch clarifies in a statement that the visit ought to help create an environment where South Sudanese plan for the future of their country without fear.
South Sudan’s leaders have committed to form a new government by May 12.