For the first time in over a decade, residents of Leer County in South Sudan’s Unity State are set to receive long-overdue access to justice through a mobile court initiative, scheduled to run from 15 April to 9 May 2025.
This critical initiative is a collaborative effort between the Judiciary of South Sudan, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, and the Unity State government, with support from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
The mobile court will handle serious criminal cases, including murder, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), and forced or early marriage. It will also adjudicate civil matters – bringing legal redress to a region that has been without judges or formal legal services for years.
In a press statement released Monday, Guang Cong, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Political Affairs at UNMISS, emphasized the importance of the initiative.
“Mobile courts, while not a substitute for permanent justice systems, play a crucial and innovative role in rebuilding public confidence in South Sudan’s rule of law,” he said.
To mark the launch on 15 April, the Governor of Unity State and senior representatives from the Judiciary, Ministry of Justice, South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS), and National Prisons Service (NPSSS) are expected to attend.
As preparations unfold, momentum is building on the ground. Last week, 20 new investigators received specialized training in southern Unity to handle SGBV and CRSV cases.
On 28 March, UNMISS facilitated the early deployment of prosecutors and investigators to begin documenting and processing complaints. Already, over 60 cases have been reported, with more anticipated in the coming weeks.
For the residents of Leer County, the mobile court symbolizes more than just legal services—it represents long-awaited justice and accountability. After years of legal neglect, local law enforcement officers have now been equipped with the necessary skills to set judicial proceedings in motion.
The concept of mobile courts in South Sudan traces back to 2012, when Chief Justice Chan Reech described it as “a step in the right direction.” At the time, South Sudan was grappling with an acute shortage of judges – just 120 to serve a population of over 8 million – and severe deficits in court infrastructure.
The mobile courts were envisioned as a solution: a traveling unit of judges, prosecutors, and police officers that could bring justice to the country’s most underserved regions. The judiciary has struggled with years of neglect, prolonged pretrial detentions, and a backlog of unaddressed cases—particularly in remote areas.
Now, more than a decade later, that vision is finally reaching Leer. And for its residents, it could mark the beginning of a new era of justice and legal empowerment.
