The Minister of Cabinet Affairs in Juba supports the idea of issuing a general amnesty as part of South Sudan’s peace process, which would prevent the prosecution of war criminals.

Minister Martin Elia Lomuro said this during an address on Saturday to a gathering of African diplomats on the occasion of Africa Day 2014, which marks the anniversary of the birth of the Organization of African Unity, today’s African Union.

His announcement of support for ‘general amnesty’ came as part of an explanation of what the government sees as next steps in the political process in South Sudan. 

“I want to assure you that we are sincere in the talks currently going in Addis Ababa. And you will know that the IGAD team will be here on 28th,” he said, referring to mediators of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, a regional bloc of countries chaired by the Ethiopian prime minister.

“We are prepared to receive them, we will dialogue with them, and we will try to convince them is more correct than the roadmap they may have,” he continued.

“And ladies and gentlemen, our roadmap is very simple. We want to implement the agreement on cessation of hostilities, put in place the mechanism for monitoring and verification, move towards permanent ceasefire, engage in diplomatic talks, and after the ceasefire we will go for general amnesty,” he noted.

Lomuro said this plan was based on the experience of the CPA, the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

The minister did not elaborate further on what he meant by ‘general amnesty,’ but the term implies that a general pardon would apply to the government’s own commanders and men as well as to rebel fighters.

Photo: Martin Elia Lomuro addresses a gathering of diplomats in Juba, 24 May 2014 (African Union)

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