South Sudan supports deferral of Uhuru’s case, urges ICC to review justice system
*Kampala, 13 October 2013 (NASS) *- South Sudan has issued a statement supporting the deferral of the ICC case against the Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and urging the court to review its justice system. According to Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin some of the rules and regulations that guide the justice system within the ICC do not consider the nature of constitutions in the African countries. He called on the ICC to look in to them. He said the Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is an elected president and stressed that his immunity should be respected. *President Kenyatta inspects a guard of honour during a previous visit to South Sudan.* [Photo: Ajang Monychol] Dr Benjamin also called on the ICC to collaborate with the African Court of Justice so that the views of the African leaders are considered especially on matters to do with Africans within the context of the African Union. President Kenyatta is scheduled to appear before the ICC by November the 12th over the violence which erupted following the 2007 elections that claimed several lives in Kenya but the African Union has advised him not to do so until their request for a deferral of the case is considered and a response provided. The African Union also said it would take tough measures if the ICC does not respect its request for a deferral of the case. *Reported by Martin Jada Gabriel, News Agency for South Sudan (NASS)* Government of Eastern Equatoria warns Karamoja cattle raiders *KAMPALA, 13 October 2013 (NASS)* - The government of Eastern Equatoria State has warned the Karamoja group who ran from a disarmament exercise in Uganda to stop cattle raiding or else the state will be forced to take serious measures against them. The Eastern Equatoria State governor, Luis Lobong Lojore, has asserted that if the Karamojong group does not stop raiding Toposa cows then they will possibly face justice in South Sudan. The governor said so many efforts have been made to address the challenges posed by the Karamoja group who are now hiding in Toposa land but none of them has been successful so far. He said these efforts have resulted instead in leaving the border between Uganda and South Sudan insecured. *The Eastern Equatoria governor and the national minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin (sixth from left), pose for a photo with other leaders.* [Photo: Ajang Monychol] Parliamentary representative of the Karamoja community in Uganda, Hon. Lokii Peter Abraham, admitted the fact that the Karamoja group is posing insecurity in South Sudan but said it should not be perceived as a fight between South Sudan and Uganda. Hon. Lokii said the Karamoja group is one of the groups that are very difficult to control, urging the governor of Eastern Equatoria State to cooperate with them to find a solution to this problem. Karamoja people who share similar traits with the Toposa of South Sudan heavily depend on cattle keeping making raiding a habit for them. *Reported by Martin Jada Gabriel, News Agency of South Sudan (NASS)* “No African leader shall be tried internationally while in service”, AU *ADDIS ABABA, 13 October 2013 (NASS) *- South Sudan together with the other African countries have adopted one of the most powerful decisions by the African Union preventing African leaders and heads of state from being tried in any international court during their period of service. The head of the African Union, Haile Mariam Desalegn, said this decision is to safeguard the constitutional order, security and stability of the member states. The decision was triggered by the performance of the ICC which the African Union perceives as unfair on the African leaders who are members to the Netherlands based International Criminal Court. However heads of state like the Sudanese President Omer Hassan al Bashir, and the Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta will benefit from this decision if the ICC will respect and take it seriouly. President Kenyatta is supposed to appear before the ICC early next month, but the African Union rejected the move urging the ICC to defer the trial. *The African leaders during the two-day special summit* [Photo: Ajang Monychol] “If the International Criminal Court does not respond to its request to defer the case of the Kenyan president, the African Union will postpone the trial and make Uhuru not attend the trial till the ICC responds,” said Tedros Adhanom, the Chairperson of the African Union Executive Council. Although South Sudan has not yet enacted the Rome statute which would enable iit to joing the International Criminal Court, it urged the court to listen to the voice of the African leaders and consider it equal with the other states. The decision also urges any African state thinking of joining the ICC to consult the African Union first before taking any step. According to the decisions, the ICC is considered the court of last resort. Meanwhile African leaders have noted the effort to expand the African courts on human rights to try international crimes such as genocide and crimes against humanity. *Reported by Martin Jada Gabriel, News Agency of South Sudan (NASS)* -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. 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