The head of South Sudan’s bar association has publicly warned that a man named Mariak Aruo Aruo Kuol is not a licensed lawyer and that anyone using his services is at risk.
Arop Malueth Manon, the elected chairperson of the South Sudan Bar Association, told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that Mariak is not recognized by the association and is accused of using a fraudulent identification card.
“Anyone having a case with him should withdraw it and look for a professional lawyer,” Arop said.
He said the association discovered Mariak was not on its list of licensed advocates during court proceedings in the Gudele area of Juba. Arop said an open case has been filed against Mariak in Gudele for impersonating a lawyer and fraud.
According to Arop, this is not an isolated incident. He cited another case in which a fake lawyer was arrested for fraud in the city of Wau. He also said the bar association is scrutinizing the academic certificates of some lawyers.
Arop encouraged citizens who cannot afford legal fees to seek pro bono services at the bar association’s secretariat in the Hai Kuwait neighborhood of Juba. He also called on all practicing lawyers to ensure their licenses are up to date.
In response, Mariak Aruo Aruo Kuol confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that Arop had suspended him but insisted his practice was legally authorized by the bar association’s previous leadership.
Mariak said he graduated from law school in Sudan and was registered to practice by former bar association chairperson James Al-Tayib. He said the arrangement was made with the knowledge of former South Sudanese justice officials after he fled the war in Sudan last year.
“Al-Tayib issued for me an ID in 2023 until 2025,” Mariak said, adding that he had never received complaints before and was surprised by the new chairperson’s order.
He admitted he did not register with the new bar association leadership after its election last year, citing illness and the fact that his existing license had not yet expired. He acknowledged that he lost his original academic certificates during the war in Sudan but said he is in the process of obtaining replacements from the University of Juba, from which he said he graduated in 2009.
Mariak insisted there is no judicial order preventing him from practicing law and questioned the timing of the accusation while he is dealing with health issues.
“I am not a thief. If I stop working, who will help with my treatment?” he said.
“In 2012, the Judiciary in Sudan wrote a letter to South Sudan mandating me to handle cases for South Sudanese living there. This was necessary because after independence, they faced challenges and were being called foreigners,” he explained
He said the bar association should have engaged with him directly before taking action, and claimed that his work in Sudan involved assisting South Sudanese citizens with legal challenges.