ADDIS ABABA -The African Union (AU) has extended the time and mandate of the Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan (AUCISS) by three months to enable it to conclude its mandate.
The AU Commission in a statement on Friday in Addis Ababa, said the five-member Inquiry Commission being chaired by Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo needed more time to conclude its work.
“Following the presentation of its Interim Report to the Assembly of Heads of States and Governments, the mandate of the commission was extended for three months from July to September.
“This is the decision of the 23rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU held in Malabo between June 26 and June 27.
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“The Commission’s request for extension of time was justified by the need to conduct more extensive consultations with different sectors of South Sudanese society in all the 10 states as well as the Diaspora and to finalise investigations.’’
The AU Peace and Security Council established the Inquiry Commission in March as a response to the crisis in South Sudan.
The commission was tasked with investigating violations of human rights and humanitarian law committed during the crisis and make recommendations relating to healing, reconciliation, accountability and institutional reforms.
NAN reports that in its first three months, the Commission held consultations with South Sudanese in South Sudan and neighboring countries.
Among those consulted were Sudanese leaders, President Salva Kiir and Dr Riek Machar, the leader of the SPLM/A in opposition, as well as some members of civil society and the academia.
The Commission’s Interim Report, submitted to the leader at the summit conceptualised its mandate and details approach to the four mandate areas as well as key activities undertaken in the first three months.
The African Union had established the commission to investigate human rights violations and other abuses committed during South Sudan’s outbreak of violence in mid-December last year. (NAN)