The chief diplomat of the United States of America said on Monday that the ‘slaughter’ of civilians in South Sudan is unacceptable and he announced the United States would help develop an accountability system for bringing to justice leaders who commit or encourage war crimes.
“You can’t hide atrocities,” said Secretary of State John Kerry in an interview with a South Sudanese Eye Radio radio journalist during a visit to Nairobi.
During the interview he announced that the United States is donating $5 million dollars for justice efforts, without specifying whether that money would fund a special court, criminal investigations or other initiatives.
“In very practical terms, I announce today that we are putting five million dollars into the effort to develop a justice and accountability system for what is happening in South Sudan,” he said, referring to killings, rapes and disappearances.
He also called for peace saying, “We need to bring this war to an end, there are two million people who have have been dispalced, mothers are burying their children, young women are being raped in camps or elsewhere. The level of slaughter of innocent victims – innocent civilians – is simply unacceptable by any standard whatsoever.”
Asked about the African Union Commission of Inquiry Report, which has been kept confidential by the AU, Kerry called for its publication saying, “You can’t hide atrocities.”
The American diplomat referred derisively to politicians on both sides as “so-called leaders,” saying they acted irresponsibly and failed to bring peace.
“We are fed up with this avoidance of responsibility by the so-called leaders of this conflict on both sides and it is time for people to act responsibly. What is happening is disgraceful.”
In final remarks, he called on displaced people in UN Protection of Civilians sites to show “courage and patience” saying he was sorry for their suffering and that the United States and the Troika would continue pressuring South Sudan’s leaders to make peace.
Photo: US Secretary Of State John Kerry speaks to Eye Radio’s Nichola Mandil in Nairobi, Kenya, 4 May 2015 (US Department of State/Glen Johnson)