A human rights watchdog has filed a case with the prosecution’s office of the International Criminal Court against seven South Sudanese officials. The case brought by the Global Rights Compliance (GRC), is currently under review at the international court. Kenneth Scott, former war crimes prosecutor in The Hague, said serious crimes were committed.
WASHINGTON MARCH 23: A human rights watchdog has filed a case with the prosecution’s office of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against seven current and former high-level South Sudanese officials for allegedly committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The case brought by the Global Rights Compliance (GRC), currently under review at the international court, alleges the seven current and former officials committed widespread and systematic violations of international law, including violence against civilians, the deliberate use of starvation, sexual, gender-based violence and mass forcible displacement in South Sudan.
Kenneth Scott, international human rights lawyer and former war crimes prosecutor in The Hague, said serious crimes were committed during the country’s five year conflict.
– “After yearlong investigations, were able to conclude that there is ample evidence, more than ample of extensive crimes against humanity and war crimes in South Sudan,” Scott said.
Scott said the GRC is urging the ICC to open a criminal investigation on the named officials.
“We found a direct link between the mass use of starvation as a weapon against civilians and massive displacement of South Sudanese population. Since the conflict started in 2013, more than 1 million South Sudanese have been displaced from Central Equatoria State into Northern Uganda refugee camps,” he said.
“Our filing with ICC is confidential which is the standard practice. We have shared certain information, limited amount of information publicly because we think it is important for the public to know and the people in South Sudan to know that this is going on,” Scott said.
Scott says as the ICC’s prosecutor reviews the GRC’s submission, it may take up to a year before the court could make a determination.
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Source: VOA News
