Arop Jonchol
For the first time, the Government of South Sudan is deploying judges, prosecutors, and investigators to Leer County in Unity State to deliver formal justice through a mobile court from April 15 to May 9, 2025.
This initiative is a joint effort between the Judiciary of South Sudan, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, and the Government of Unity State, with support from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
The mobile court in Leer is set to handle serious criminal cases, including murder, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), and forced and early marriage. To underscore the importance of justice delivery, the court’s opening on April 15 is expected to be attended by the Governor of Unity State, along with senior representatives from the judiciary, Ministry of Justice, South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS), and National Prison Service of South Sudan (NPSSS).
This deployment follows the recent training of 20 new investigators in the region, focusing specifically on cases involving SGBV and CRSV. On March 28, UNMISS facilitated the pre-deployment of prosecutors and investigators to begin receiving and processing criminal complaints. Over 60 cases were reported even before the court’s arrival, and more are expected. The court will address a mix of criminal and civil cases.
Guang Cong, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Political Affairs in UNMISS, stated:
“Mobile courts, though not a substitute for permanent judicial structures, play a vital and innovative role in rebuilding public trust in the rule of law in South Sudan.”
The mobile court in Leer is financially supported by the Reconciliation, Stabilization and Resilience Trust Fund (RSRTF) and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Juba.
Since 2013, continued conflict and insecurity have forced judges to withdraw from Unity State. In their absence, communities relied entirely on customary courts—even for serious crimes that exceed their jurisdiction. Leer County, one of the hardest-hit areas by conflict, has lacked access to formal justice mechanisms for over a decade.
In 2024, UNMISS supported the government in deploying four mobile courts across Unity State, including the first courts in Koch and Mayom Counties since independence. While no cases were tried in the formal system in 2023, judges handled 257 cases in 2024. Rising demand for justice led to the establishment of a mobile court in Bentiu in December 2024, with full backing from the state governor.
