Tuesday, 7 April 2026 | Author – Alex Onyango | Nairobi-Kenya | File photo| GT-News |
A United Nations-supported mobile court has concluded hearings in South Sudan’s Mundri region, securing convictions in serious criminal cases and offering rare access to justice in an area where formal courts are largely absent.
The court, which sat from 18 to 31 March, heard 30 cases— including 28 criminal and two civil matters— resulting in 14 convictions and 16 acquittals, according to officials.
Among the cases were nine murder trials, reflecting the scale of violent crime in the area. Three defendants were convicted, receiving sentences ranging from six years to life imprisonment, while three cases were dismissed and three suspects acquitted.
The proceedings also exposed the extent of sexual and gender-based violence in Greater Mundri. Six people were convicted, including for rape, in what officials say marks a significant moment for survivors, many of whom were able to pursue justice through a formal legal process for the first time.
Mobile courts are frequently used in South Sudan to bring justice services closer to remote or conflict-affected communities, where weak infrastructure and insecurity limit access to the legal system.
The Mundri court was supported by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), with funding from the Norwegian government. UNMISS said it provided legal and logistical assistance, as well as protection measures for survivors, families and defendants.
This included psychosocial support, legal preparation for witnesses, and transport and accommodation — all aimed at ensuring participation and fairness in proceedings.
The initiative is part of wider efforts to strengthen South Sudan’s fragile justice system, reduce prolonged detention, and ease overcrowding in prisons.
For many in Mundri, the court’s presence signalled more than legal action — it offered a sense that accountability, long out of reach, may be slowly taking hold.
