ADDIS ABABA – The African Union (AU), in collaboration with the Government of South Sudan and the United Nations (UN), has announced an open call for applications for three Non-South Sudanese Commissioners for the South Sudan Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing (CTRH).
Formed and mandated by the 2018 peace deal, CTRH’s primary functions and responsibilities are to spearhead efforts to address the legacy of conflicts, promote peace, national reconciliation and healing.
The mechanism is to be established by legislation and shall also recommend processes and mechanisms for the full enjoyment by the victims of the human right violations, including by suggesting measures for reparations and compensation.
In the determination of such remedial processes and mechanisms, the CTRH shall draw on existing traditional practices, processes, and mechanisms, where appropriate.
The R-ARCSS provides for appointment of seven (7) Commissioners, four (4) of whom shall be South Sudanese nationals, including two (2) women. The remaining three (3) Commissioners shall be from other African countries, of whom at least one (1) shall be a woman.
The CTRH shall be chaired by a South Sudanese national, and deputized by a non-South Sudanese national.
“The conflict in South Sudan has been marked by extensive human rights violations for several years coupled with a desire for truth, justice and reconciliation,” AU said in a statement announcing the vacancies.
Besides the CTRH, there are justice mechanisms including the Hybrid Court for South Sudan (HCSS) and, the Compensation and Reparations Authority (CRA), which must be formed to address alleged atrocities that occurred from December 2013 to the moment.
In November 2024, President Salva Kiir signed the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing (CTRH) Act (2024) into law, paving the way for the formation of the body which will operate for a period of six years.
According to the CTRH Act, the South Sudan Council of Ministers, in consultation with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, is responsible for nominating the three (3) non-South Sudanese Commissioners.
These nominations will be presented to the Transitional National Legislative Assembly for endorsement. The responsibilities of the CTRH Commissioners shall be as follows to oversee the truth-telling and reconciliation processes to address the root causes of conflict in South Sudan.
It will also investigate and produce a true historical record of human rights violations and abuses in South Sudan from July 2005 to the date of signing the R-ARCSS (12 September 2018).
Applicants are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree in Law, Political Science, International Relations, or a related disciplines, good understanding of Transitional Justice and the African Union Transitional Justice Policy.
They must also have a minimum of 10 years of working experience in truth and reconciliation processes or related fields such as Law, Human Rights, Peacebuilding, or Conflict Resolution.