The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)on Monday said it has continued its support for two mobile justice interventions through March, led by the Judiciary of South Sudan and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
According to a press release issued to Radio Tamazuj, from 4-19 March, 23 cases from Morobo, Yei, and Lainya counties in Central Equatoria State were heard during the second phase of the mobile court in Greater Yei. Of these, 12 cases were concluded with judgments, of which eight were related to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
“Additionally, in partnership with the Unity State Government, UNMISS is supporting the deployment of a mobile court to Southern Unity, based in Leer,” the statement said. “The court, which begins operations today, is expected to hear both criminal and civil matters, including serious offences such as murder, SGBV, and conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). It brings together justice actors from all four counties of Southern Unity—Leer, Koch, Mayiendit, and Panyijar.”
“Relatedly, on 9 March, UNMISS facilitated the advanced deployment of prosecutors, investigators, and a victims’ advocate to Leer and Rubkuay to begin receiving and processing criminal complaints,” the statement added.
According to UNMISS, more than 100 criminal cases have already been reported for investigation, including cases that remained pending following the 2025 Leer mobile court, among them 25 cases related to sexual and gender-based violence.
“The Southern Unity mobile court was funded by the Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Reconciliation, Stabilization and Resilience (RSRTF) and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Juba, which also financially supported the court in Greater Yei,” UNMISS disclosed.
The Mission said the second phase of the Yei mobile court aimed to support the resident judge who was recently deployed. It followed an investigation mission and the first phase of the mobile court, during which a total of 23 cases were heard. Judgements were delivered in 10 cases, nine of which involved sexual and gender-based violence.
The Southern Unity mobile court will operate from 23 March to 17 April 2026. This deployment builds on the 2025 Leer mobile court, which marked a significant expansion of access to justice for communities, particularly for women and girls.
In 2024 and 2025, UNMISS supported the deployment of six mobile courts across Unity state, including the first courts in Koch, Mayom, and Leer counties since 2013. The growing demand for justice also led the Governor of Unity State to support a mobile court in Bentiu in December 2024. While no cases were decided by the formal justice system in Unity State in 2023, judges decided 449 cases in 2024 and 2025.
The rule of law is a foundational principle where all persons, institutions, and governments are accountable to publicly promulgated, equally enforced, and independently adjudicated laws. It ensures justice through fair, transparent legal systems, preventing arbitrary power, protecting human rights, and requiring an independent judiciary.