South Sudan Truth Commission Nominees: AU Approval Crucial for Transitional Justice

• Laws establishing the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH) were signed in November 2024, and the recruitment of commissioners, including non-South Sudanese nominees, began in November 2025.
• South Sudanese civil society groups have welcomed progress but continue to urge the government to fully operationalize the commission and complete the appointment process without further delay.
• Delays in fully operationalizing the commission and appointing commissioners could weaken public confidence in the transitional justice process.
• The establishment of the commission is crucial for South Sudan's efforts to address legacy issues and promote accountability.

However, delays in fully operationalizing the commission and completing the appointment of commissioners could weaken public confidence in the transitional justice process.

The laws establishing the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH) were signed in November 2024, and the recruitment of commissioners, including non-South Sudanese nominees, began in November 2025. South Sudanese civil society groups have welcomed progress on the commission but continue to urge for its full operationalization and transparent appointment of commissioners. They called on the government to submit the full list of nominees to the Cabinet and the Revitalized Transitional National Legislative Assembly for consideration and approval.

The groups also emphasized the importance of transparency and participation in the remaining stages of the appointment process, including the formal establishment and operationalization of the commission.

The Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing is one of the transitional justice mechanisms provided for under the 2018 peace agreement. The agreement stipulates that the commission should be established to address the legacy of conflict and human rights abuses in South Sudan. While the laws establishing the CTRH were signed in November 2024 and passed by the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, the commission is yet to be fully operationalized. The recruitment process for national and non-South Sudanese commissioners began in November 2025 and is ongoing. The process requires the consideration and approval of nominees as part of its formal establishment and operationalization.

The establishment of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing is crucial for South Sudan's efforts to address the legacy of conflict and human rights abuses. The commission has the potential to promote truth, accountability, reconciliation, and healing in the country.

However, delays in fully operationalizing the commission and completing the appointment of commissioners could weaken public confidence in the transitional justice process. This could undermine efforts to address legacy issues and promote accountability, ultimately perpetuating a culture of impunity in South Sudan.

Lawyers advising clients in South Sudan should be aware of the potential impact of delays on public confidence in the transitional justice process. They should also consider the importance of transparency and participation in the appointment process, as these are essential for building trust in the commission's credibility.

Lawyers advising clients in South Sudan should be aware of the potential impact of delays in establishing the truth commission on public confidence in the transitional justice process, which could weaken efforts to address legacy issues and promote accountability.

Source: Original reporting via AU names Truth Commission nominees as South Sudan civil society demands action