Human Rights Watch criticizes South Sudan’s reshuffling, promotions

Human Rights Watch—an international human rights lobby group—has termed the recent reshuffling by President Salva Kiir as a move that emboldens human rights subjugation.

Carine Kaneza Nantulya, the Africa Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch, penned a statement on Wednesday calling out the government for promoting key figures that have not respected the sanctity of human rights in their dealings.

In specific, Nantulya had an issue with President Kiir’s promotion of Akol Koor Kuc to the rank of First Lieutenant General on account that Mr Kuc abused rights of citizens when he served at the National Security Service (NSS).

‘‘This move is yet another slap in the face to the many victims of the NSS’s horrific and well-documented crimes committed under Kuc’s watch,’’ the HRW boss states.

It further states: ‘‘Instead of rewarding Kuc with a promotion, President Kiir should ensure there is an effective investigation into him and his colleagues for their role in the abuses.’’

The lobby group argues that after conducting investigation, a group of top security officials failed to meet the bar as far as safeguarding human rights is concerned.

‘‘We found that Kuc, who heads the internal security bureau, together with the Minister for National Security, Mamur Obote, and outgoing head of the General Intelligence Bureau, Thomas Duoth Guet (now appointed as South Sudan’s ambassador to Kuwait), failed to end systemic human rights violations by the NSS or ensure credible investigations and criminal accountability for officers implicated in abuse,’’ the HRW stated.

The body also criticised the government over the recent appointment of Gen Santino Deng as the army chief saying the officer had been sanctioned by the UN in 2015 and had integrity questions.

Ateny speaks

On Wednesday, April 14, Government Spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny defended the NSS against accusations of human rights abuses, illegal detentions and extrajudicial killings saying those were baseless rumours.

Mr Ateny said the security body is a trained, professional and disciplined force which accords suspects in their custody proper hearing and trial in accordance with the laws of the land.

‘‘Those in NSS custody are properly cared for and accorded due process, including fair trial,” Ateny said during a press conference in Juba.

The National Security Service Spokesperson David John Kumuri also waded over the issue and added the security organs are undergoing reforms according to the R-ARCSS but it is a process that will take some time.

“If you look at the national security service, we are already absorbing the opposition in to the system of national security service. Also, one of the reform is that the national security service now has a public relation office and you can now access the NSS at any time and you can now bring in your complaints,” Kumuri explained.