South Sudan: Rights Body Says Can't Consider Communications Against African Country

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July, 2011 but internal fighting is standing in the way of the country's progress and brought about widespread human rights abuses, according to agencies. (Photo taken from BBC)

An African Union human rights body has said it can't consider communications [of human rights violations] against Africa's newest country, South Sudan.

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, ACHPR, on June 18, 2016 maintained it cannot consider Communications against South Sudan prior to its ratification of the [African] Charter.

The Commission reviewed the Paper on Consideration of Communications against South Sudan two weeks ago. South Sudan has not yet ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR).

The decision is contained in a Communiqué of the 20th Extraordinary Session of the Commission held in Banjul, Islamic Republic of The Gambia from 9 – 18 June, 2016.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July, 2011 but human rights agencies said internal fighting is standing in the way of the country's progress and has brought about widespread human rights abuses.

A referendum on independence, engulfed in hopes and fears, ended Africa's longest-running civil war. But a recent two-year civil war has displaced more than 2 million and left several thousand people death. 

Written by Modou S. Joof

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