People living in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria town of Yambio can now have access to justice, through the initiation of a mobile court in the area, which is expected to hear more than 100 cases by end of the year.
An initiative between United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the mobile courts aim to bring justice to parts of the country like Yambio, where the legal system has been neglected after decades of conflict.
South Sudan’s civil war has killed almost 400 000 people since 2013, about half dying from violent injuries. Combatants on all sides have perpetrated serious human rights abuses, including gang rape, abductions, sexual slavery of women and girls and recruitment of children.
Some of the suspects have waited for years without trial.
One of the first cases in Yambio saw a suspect being led into the court room for his case to be heard.
The main reason for the hold-up of the cases was due to the absence of judges who had fled the area since conflict erupted in the Western Equatorial region in 2016.
Richard Nimeri, whose case is currently being heard, is grateful that he will soon get justice. His case had been delayed since 2017.
“My case had taken about three years now, but I’m happy now that we have a judge from Juba. Sometimes delay in justice may cause bad things. People will start taking revenge therefore I’m very grateful to UNMISS and the government for bringing us a Judge to solve our problems,” he said.
Judge Angelo Daniel used to try cases in Yambio before the conflict.
He relocated to the country’s capital Juba but is now back as one of the judges launching the mobile courts.
“We started today with three cases, one is a case of rape and theft. It was very fruitful day,” Judge Angelo said.
“Part of the UNMISS mandate to protect civilians is to ensure accountability for serious crimes, including sexual and gender-based violence and conflict-related sexual violence. So, one of the things that UNMISS together with UNDP have been trying to do is to support this kind of mobile courts so that they are able to go to places where one or more of the justice sector is either missing or need additional support to be able to ensure access to justice to the most vulnerable people,” added McCall Carter, Rule of Law Officer at UNMISS.
Some of the cases expected to be heard before the close of the year include rape, murder and theft cases.
Newer articles:
- UNHCR head appeals to South Sudan parties to ensure long-lasting peace - 13/12/2019 17:37
- Situation in South Sudan - Report of the Secretary-General (S/2019/936) - 13/12/2019 12:37
- South Sudan's devastating floods: why they happen and why they need a coherent national policy - 13/12/2019 11:35
- South Sudan allocates $40M to help integrate rival forces - 13/12/2019 09:43
- South Sudan accuses U.S. of undermining peace progress with sanctions - 13/12/2019 06:14
Older news items
- U.S. Threatens Visa Restrictions Over South Sudan Peace Process - 12/12/2019 10:31
- South Sudan faces famine after 'catastrophic' floods: WFP - 12/12/2019 09:18
- South Sudan joins Global Network to launch Accelerator Lab and Human Development Report 2019 - 12/12/2019 00:42
- South Sudan rivals hold rare meeting as peace deal stalls - 11/12/2019 16:26
- Methane pulse detected from South Sudan wetlands - 11/12/2019 08:19
Latest news items (all categories):
- The Collo Kingdom Remains Underdeveloped: Five Hundred Years Later! - 03/02/2025 12:57
- Attack on South Sudan cattle camps kills 35 - 03/02/2025 12:46
- في صفقة مثيرة.. الإمارات تشتري نفط الجنوب في باطن الأرض لمدة 20 عامًا - 03/02/2025 12:42
- South Sudan: Can oil production save the economy? - 30/01/2025 19:27
- 20 oil workers and crew die in South Sudan plane crash - 30/01/2025 19:20
Random articles (all categories):
- S Sudan truce crumbles amid renewed clashes - 22/07/2014 01:54
- Sudan likely to have armed S.Sudan rebels by air: report - 02/06/2015 03:00
- South Sudan: Kiir Fires Water Ministry Undersecretary - 30/05/2023 09:07
- Top UN official warns of famine in South Sudan - 11/02/2014 12:36
- Rizeigat blame Khartoum for border conflict with South Sudan - Radio Dabanga - 28/12/2012 14:42
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 67688 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22360 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21558 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 19210 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 19199 times