UN-backed mobile court to bring formal justice to conflict-hit county in South Sudan

IANS April 14, 2025 205 views

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan has launched a groundbreaking mobile court in Leer County to deliver formal justice in a region devastated by long-standing conflict. This innovative judicial initiative will address serious criminal cases, including sexual and gender-based violence, in an area that has been without formal legal structures for over a decade. Trained investigators and prosecutors will work to process numerous pending cases and restore community trust in the justice system. The mobile court represents a critical step towards healing and accountability in a region that has suffered extensive legal and social disruption.

"Mobile courts play a vital and innovative role in restoring public faith in South Sudan's rule of law" - Guang Cong, UNMISS Deputy Head
Juba, April 14: The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) announced Monday that it has supported the deployment of judges, prosecutors, and investigators to Leer County to deliver formal justice through a mobile court.

Key Points

1

UN deploys judges and prosecutors to Leer County

2

Mobile court targets serious criminal cases including SGBV

3

First formal justice mechanism in over a decade

4

Aims to process over 60 reported criminal complaints

Leer County, located in the Unity State, Greater Upper Nile region, is among the areas hardest hit by conflict and has lacked access to formal justice mechanisms for over a decade.

The initiative, a joint effort by the Judiciary of South Sudan, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, and the Unity State government, is set to begin Tuesday and will run through May 9.

"Mobile courts, while not a substitute for formal justice structures, play a vital and innovative role in restoring public faith in South Sudan's rule of law architecture," Guang Cong, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (Political) for South Sudan and Deputy Head of UNMISS, said in a statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

According to the statement, the Leer mobile court will focus on adjudicating serious criminal cases, including murder, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV), Conflict-related Sexual Violence (CRSV), and forced or early marriage.

The deployment follows the recent training of 20 new investigators in southern Unity State, with specialised instruction on handling SGBV and CRSV cases.

On March 28, UNMISS facilitated the early deployment of prosecutors and investigators to begin receiving and processing criminal complaints, Xinhua news agency reported. More than 60 cases were reported prior to the court's arrival, with additional filings expected in the coming days. The court is set to handle both criminal and civil cases.

Judges withdrew from Unity State in 2013 due to ongoing conflict and insecurity, leaving residents to rely exclusively on customary courts, even for serious crimes outside their jurisdiction.

These mobile courts, which have been previously deployed in Unity, Western Bahr El Ghazal, and Warrap states in 2024 and 2023, are transforming justice delivery, changing attitudes towards sexual violence and children's rights, and instilling hope in communities that fair trials are possible and perpetrators face justice.

Reader Comments

M
Maria K.
This is such an important step forward! Access to justice can change everything for communities affected by conflict. Hope this brings some closure to victims who've waited too long. 🙏
J
James T.
About time! The fact that people had to rely on customary courts for serious crimes like murder and sexual violence was unacceptable. Hope this is just the beginning of more permanent solutions.
A
Amina B.
While I appreciate the effort, I worry about sustainability. What happens after May 9? Mobile courts are great but we need permanent judicial infrastructure and trained local professionals.
P
Paul R.
The focus on SGBV cases is crucial. Too often these crimes go unpunished in conflict zones. Hope the specialized training makes a real difference for survivors seeking justice.
S
Sarah L.
Seeing 60+ cases already reported shows how desperate people were for this service. Can't imagine living without access to proper courts for a decade. This gives me hope for South Sudan's future.
T
Thomas W.
The collaboration between UN, national and state governments here is impressive. When institutions work together like this, real change can happen. Hope they document the process for other regions too.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Your email won't be published

Tags:
South Sudan UNMISS Mobile Court UN Justice Leer County Sexual Violence Conflict Resolution
You May Like!