A top official of the SPLM/A-in-Opposition, South Sudan’s armed opposition, says international investigators would be welcome to investigate atrocities and free to cooperate with the rebel movement.

This comes after the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon proposed a hybrid tribunal with international involvement be set up to investigate crimes against humanity in South Sudan.

The chief negotiator of SPLM/A-in-Opposition, Taban Deng, welcomed investigation into the atrocities committed in both government and rebels-held areas.  

In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, Deng affirmed that they are ready to cooperate with whoever wants to investigate the crimes committed during the conflict in South Sudan.

When asked about the peace talks, the rebel’s chief negotiator stated that the negotiation is progressing well, adding that two committees have already been formed.

Riek Machar, the leader of SPLM/A-in-Opposition said at a press conference Monday that the president of the country “wanted to create an ethnic war in the country… he did bad things, committing genocide in Juba, destroying the country now.”

But the negotiator noted also that the two sides have agreed on negotiating committees for humanitarian and political affairs, saying the political committee will discuss a roadmap for a way forward on the governance political issues, wheras the humanitarian committee will look at humanities access and security. 

The UN chief has warned that if the conflict continues in South Sudan half of the country’s 12 million people “will either be displaced internally, refugees abroad, starving or dead by the year’s end.” 

File photo: Taban Deng Gai