, in partnership with the Judiciary of South Sudan and the Directorate of Legal Administration and Public Prosecution, has launched a 30-day Mobile Court Initiative in Wau and Raja Counties of Western Bahr el Ghazal State.){kind=link}
By David Philip Baguru – Voice of Hope Radio, Wau
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Judiciary of South Sudan and the Directorate of Legal Administration and Public Prosecution, has launched a 30-day Mobile Court Initiative in Wau and Raja Counties of Western Bahr el Ghazal State.
The initiative aims to reduce the backlog of criminal cases, address prolonged pre-trial detention, strengthen the protection of victims’ rights, and promote accountability, the rule of law, and access to justice across the state.
Speaking during the launch ceremony, UNDP representative Mr. Felix Cassim said the deployment of the mobile court demonstrates the shared commitment of justice-sector institutions and development partners to ensuring that justice is accessible to all citizens, regardless of their geographical location or circumstances.
He noted that the initiative offers a practical response to challenges within the justice system by temporarily deploying judges, prosecutors, legal aid providers, and other court personnel to underserved areas.
Meanwhile, the President of the Court of Appeal for the Bahr el Ghazal Circuit, Justice Andrew Joshua Lado, described the mobile court as an important mechanism for bringing justice services closer to communities while helping to ease overcrowding in detention facilities.
He said the initiative would help clear cases that had remained pending for extended periods, revealing that more than 200 remand cases were currently awaiting trial in prisons.
“The mobile court will assist in clearing cases that have been awaiting trial for a long time. We are aware that there are more than 200 remand cases in prisons, and this situation requires urgent attention,” he said.
The President of the High Court in Western Bahr el Ghazal State, Justice Dudu Jackson Jejen, also welcomed the initiative, saying it would enable judicial officers to reach communities where access to justice services remains limited.
The mobile court is the first initiative of its kind to be established in Western Bahr el Ghazal State this year.
Senior state officials attended the launch ceremony, including the Acting Inspector General of Police and State Commissioner for Police, Lt. Gen. Elia Kosta Faustino; the State Director of Prisons Service, Maj. Gen. Pidele Majok; the State Director for Legal Administration in the Ministry of Justice, Molana Awad Haroun Andal; representatives of the Bar Association, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen access to justice, enhance public confidence in the justice system, and promote the rule of law in South Sudan.