US Ambassador to South Sudan Thomas Hashek and justice minister Paulino Wanawilla discussed a number of issues pertaining to transitional justice in a meeting held in Juba today.
The African Union was mandated by the 2015 peace accord to help South Sudan to ensure accountability for past human rights abuses through the establishment of a hybrid court.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Ambassador Hushek said he discussed the ongoing peace process and issues of transitional justice under the peace agreement with the minister of justice.
The American diplomat further said they discussed the Terrain Hotel case. He urged the government to fast track the final verdict.
The assault on the Terrain Hotel in Juba in July 2016 by soldiers, left a South Sudanese aid worker dead and at least five foreign women raped.
Hushek also called on the government of South Sudan to release the detained peace activist Peter Biar Ajak.
For his part, justice minister Paulina Wanawilla said they discussed issues of transitional justice under the 2015 peace agreement.
When asked about the arrest of Peter Biar Ajak in Juba, Wanawilla said:” We are waiting for information from the arresting authority. We don’t have the information yet, but obviously any arrest has a reason behind it,” he said.
The government official revealed that discussions are underway with the African Union on the establishment of a Hybrid Court.