South Sudan President Salva Kiir in his New Year’s message said that his government will establish a Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing (CTRH) by the end of January so that the people know what happened during the war and use it as a basis for peacebuilding and reconciliation.

The Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing in South Sudan falls under Chapter V of the revitalized peace agreement. The ministry of justice and constitutional affairs is mandated by the R-ARCSS to conduct national consultations in collaboration with other stakeholders and civil society.

“We will be embarking on the process of establishing the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing (CTRH) by the end of January 2022,” President Kiir said. “It is important to initiate this process so that our people can know the truth about what took place during the war and use it as the basis for peacebuilding, reconciliation, and social stability” 

He added: “With these in mind, I, therefore, call upon all South Sudanese to embrace the roadmap set forth by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs regarding this process.” 

President Kiir also said that the task force overseeing and coordinating the implementation of Chapters-5, Chapter-6, and Judicial Reform will identify relevant international partners who will assist with the establishment of the Compensation and Reparation Authority (CRA).

“Our unity of purpose and action as parties to the agreement is important because the success of this agreement depends on it,” Kiir said. “We have a responsibility to create permanent stability in our country through this agreement. We have been reminded many times by our partners that this agreement belongs to us.” 

The president said significant progress has been made despite the difficulties in implementing the Revitalized peace agreement and that the cease-fire has been holding and this year's festive season was celebrated peacefully in most parts of our country.

“The unknown gunmen which used to terrorize citizens here in Juba are now a thing of the past,” President Kiir said. “South Sudan People's Defence Forces, the SPLM/A-IO and SSOA Forces have been in cantonment sites and training centers together for over two years without major incident. That itself is a big achievement.”

He said the Joint Defense Board (JDB) Team was sent Mid-December 2021, to reconfirm its earlier report on the details of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) in the Training Centers awaiting graduation.

“When graduated, the Unified Forces will not be the Army of any political party. It will be a professionalized force tasked with defending the territory of South Sudan, its people, and their properties,” Kiir promised. “When instituted, the Unified Forces will act as guarantors for political stability and socio-economic development of South Sudan for generations.” 

The president said that he clearly identified the government’s priorities as peace implementation, economic reforms, and roads construction.

“I would like to inform you today that we have recently added other roads in addition to the ones I announced in August,” Kiir said. “These are The Aggrey Jaden Road, formerly the Juba-Lainya-Yei-Kaya Road, which we launched on the 28 December 2021; Juba - Mundri-Yambio-Tombura-Wau Road, with another branch from Mundri-Mvolo-Rumbek- Tonj- Wau-Kuajok-Gogrial-Aweil; Yei-Bangolo-Tali via Amadi; and Juba-Kajo-Keji Road.” 

He said regardless of the challenges on the path to the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement, “I am assuring you again this year that I will not return you to war”.