Ter Manyang, the Executive Director of the Juba-based Center for Peace and Advocacy or CPA - COURTESY

A South Sudanese civil society activist said he and fellow colleagues will use the upcoming session of the African Commission on Human and People Rights in Tanzania to engage the continental body to pressure Juba on the establishment of hybrid court.

Ter Manyang, the Executive Director of Center of Peace and Advocacy said he and other South Sudanese civil society activists will are set to participate in the 75^th ordinary session of the commission next week in Arusha.

The event will take place from 16^th to 18^th October – with over 3,000 participants from across African countries expected to attend.

“I and my college from the South Sudan Civil Society will be able to lobby, advocate and engage the commission in charge of South Sudan to urge the government of South Sudan to push for the establishment of hybrid court,” he said.

Manyang told Eye Radio the session will focus on the shrinking civic space in most African countries “because in most of the African countries, governments are restricting civic space that is becoming an issue affecting human rights and the role of civil society.”

Ter added that the forum aims to strengthen collaboration among NGOs within the African Commission and other mechanism for protection and promotion of human rights in Africa.

“The main objective of this forum is to booster the collaboration among NGOs within the African commission as well as other African human rights mechanism for protection and promotion of human rights in Africa and it is one of the important aspects where people will be having a lot of discussion on.”

“The other theme also South Sudan will be interested on is the issue of accountability in case of revenge and judicial killing, ensuring the issue of accountability for human rights violation and in South Sudan most of the civilians are holding guns.”

Chapter 5 of the 2018 revitalize peace agreements stipulates the establishment of an independent hybrid court to be led by the African Union Commission to investigate.

And where necessary, prosecutes individuals bearing responsibility for violations of international law or applicable South Sudan Law.