As part of ongoing efforts to extend justice services to areas without a permanent judicial presence, a mobile court will begin proceedings in Central Equatoria State’s Yei River County from 2-16 December 2025.
According to a press release UNMISS extended to Radio Tamazuj, the court, funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Juba, is being implemented by South Sudan’s Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and Judiciary, with support from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
“Ahead of this court’s deployment, UNMISS supported an investigation mission by the Ministry of Justice and other justice actors from 4–13 November,” the statements read in part. “The team verified 46 cases for trial, including 24 cases of sexual and gender-based violence—21 of them rape—mostly involving underage survivors. Six murder cases and a range of other serious offences were also prepared.”
“Following this, a public consultation in Yei with 42 participants from government, police, the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces, civil society, media, and court administration, highlighted key challenges: the absence of a sitting judge, insecurity in the greater Yei area, stigma against survivors, limited police investigative capacity, and weak court and prison infrastructure,” the statement added.
The court will hear all verified cases and remain open to new matters from Yei, Lainya, and Morobo. Victims and witnesses will receive assistance from a local civil society organization, supported by dedicated victims’ and defense counsel, the statement said.