South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar said he received a copy of the African Union Commission of Inquiry report on South Sudan Thursday and urged its public release.
The report, completed in late 2014 but never released, was meant to document gross abuses of human rights committed since December 2013 and recommend a way forward for justice, reconciliation, and healing.
Machar’s side earlier complained that the African Union Peace and Security Council already shared the report with South Sudan government officials but not with them.
In a press statement, Machar said the results of the study “must officially be made public.”
“We strongly belief [sic] that the Report shall impact positively on the peace process as it addresses issues of accountability in regards to genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity since 15th December 2015 [sic] and as well national reconciliation and healing in the country on one hand and institution reforms on the other,” Machar said.
The former vice president urged the AU Peace and Security Council to invite him to an upcoming meeting of heads of state and government scheduled for the first two weeks of August.
South Sudan’s government claimed after seeing the report that the commission, led by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, ruled out that genocide took place during the war.
Photo: Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth and Riek Machar receive AU COI report
Related:
S Sudan govt welcomes war crimes court as opposition excluded from meeting on atrocities (28 Jul.)
Leaked AU document recommends tossing Kiir and Machar from transitional government (6 Mar.)
Timeline: African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan (15 Jan.)