The mission is to prepare for the deployment of a mobile court set to start next month. This initiative is crucial for crime victims who have long felt accountability is unreachable.
Since 2018, South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, has faced instability and violence despite a peace agreement intended to end years of civil war.
Armed clashes involving government forces, opposition groups, and local militias continue, displacing thousands and worsening an already dire humanitarian situation.
Sexual violence is widespread
“My 8-year-old child was raped, and I don’t know what to do as her future is already damaged,” said Grace Hadia, the mother of a sexual violence survivor. “I have not been able to sleep since this incident. I hope justice will prevail with the mobile court’s deployment.”
Many similar painful stories surfaced during the assessment, with authorities documenting 35 pending cases, including nine murder cases, 15 involving sexual and gender-based violence (GBV), and others related to theft and serious crimes.
Local leaders acknowledge GBV as a growing problem.
“Recently, during a funeral, a woman was raped by seven men. We are still searching for the suspects so they can face justice,” said Zilpha Dawa, Mundri West County Commissioner. “What we lack is a GBV desk at the police station. These cases are often treated like ordinary crimes. We urgently need trained personnel to handle GBV reports properly and maintain accurate records.”
No courthouses, no trials
The absence of functioning courthouses has left many suspects waiting years in detention without trial, exacerbating severe prison overcrowding.
Mobile courts are aiding justice in South Sudan.
“I have spent two and a half years in prison without trial. I am hopeful that the mobile court will come, and justice will finally prevail,” stated one alleged perpetrator.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan is supporting the assessment mission and mobile court to strengthen the justice chain and build trust among communities in the rule of law.
Mobile courts are more than legal proceedings; they will bring accountability and healing. For many, it is the first real hope that long-delayed justice may finally be delivered.
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