JUBA - As part of ongoing efforts to extend justice services to areas without a permanent judicial presence, a mobile court will begin proceedings in Yei River County, Central Equatoria, from 2-16 December 2025.
Funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Juba, the court 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 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 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.
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Contact: UNMISS Spokesperson, Priyanka Chowdhury atchowdhury20@un.orgorunmiss-spokesperson@un.org