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 is designed 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 at the launch ceremony, the President of the Court of Appeal for the Bahr el Ghazal Circuit, Justice Andrew Joshua Lado, described the mobile court as a practical mechanism for bringing justice services closer to communities while helping to ease overcrowding in detention facilities.
“This mobile court is an effort to make the justice system more accessible to communities in Western Bahr el Ghazal. Given the limited number of judges available, mobile courts provide a viable solution to improving access to justice and strengthening the rule of law,” said Justice Lado. “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 expressed appreciation for UNDP’s continued support to South Sudan’s justice sector through initiatives aimed at strengthening the rule of law and expanding access to justice.
Justice Dudu Jackson Jejen, President of the High Court in Western Bahr el Ghazal State, welcomed the initiative, emphasizing that it would enable judicial officers to reach communities where access to judicial services remains limited.
Representing UNDP, Mr. Felix Cassim stated that 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 location or circumstances.
“For many communities in remote areas, long distances, limited justice-sector infrastructure, and resource constraints continue to hinder access to judicial services,” he said. “These challenges often contribute to delays in the administration of justice and prolonged pre-trial detention. This initiative will help bridge the gap between justice institutions and the communities they serve, ensuring that citizens can access timely and fair judicial processes.”
The mobile court is the first initiative of its kind to be established in Western Bahr el Ghazal State this year. The launch was attended by senior state officials, including the A/IGP-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 ongoing efforts to strengthen access to justice, enhance public confidence in the justice system, and advance the rule of law in South Sudan.
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