The Mobile Court, deployed to Bentiu, Unity State, since 29 September 2025, has handled 135 civil and criminal cases and concluded its session on 24 October 2025.
Unity State Governor Justice Riek Biem confirmed that the court concluded its session during which it adjudicated 45 criminal cases, convicting 40 individuals, while 18 were acquitted or had their cases dismissed.
The proceedings also led to the release of 99 people who had been wrongfully detained or had already served their sentences, following the deployment of an investigation team on 22 September. Six of the cases heard involved members of the security forces.
Importantly, the court ruled on six Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases, resulting in two convictions. It also granted 22 divorces, including 17, initiated by women who had experienced SGBV-related abuses such as forced marriage or domestic violence, the governor disclosed.
“Through the Bentiu Mobile Court, the Unity State Government and the Judiciary of South Sudan have taken the first steps towards re-establishing the judiciary in the state after 12 years of absence,” Governor Biem stated.
Unity State Public Prosecutor and acting legal administrator, Madeng Latjor Madeng, said the court tried serious offences like rape, murder, and others.
“Up to yesterday evening, the cases reported to the police were 158 different types, and I am talking about criminal cases, not the civil cases,” he said.
Meanwhile, the UNMISS Rule of Law Officer in Unity State, Natalie Mazur, told this publication that there is a strong need for a formal justice system in the area. She mentioned that residents are reporting cases to the court for trial.
“There is a significant demand for the formal justice system to be present here in Unity State to deal with the cases that are reported,” she explained. “So, we saw a lot of people turn out both to report criminal cases and also to come to the court.”
“I think it was one of the largest showings of people from the six mobile courts we have now supported the deployment of in Unity State,” Mazur added.
The Mobile Court began its sessions on 29 September 2025 and finished on 24 October 2025. The UNMISS supports it.