Judiciary Restores Official Working Hours in Sweeping Reform Effort
The Judiciary of South Sudan has announced a return to standard working hours for all its employees in a move aimed at restoring order and improving service delivery, particularly at the Mudiria Law Courts in Juba.
The directive was issued in a circular dated June 2025, signed by Deng Akol Deng, the Director General of Finance, and marks a sharp departure from what had become an unofficial culture of early closures and limited access for court users. Under the previous judicial leadership, most court operations, including at the Mudiria Law Courts, would wind down as early as 1 pm, rendering the justice system largely inaccessible to the public in the afternoons.
This latest reform follows President Salva Kiir’s decision to replace former Chief Justice Chan Reech Madut and his deputy John Gatwech, who were widely blamed for the deterioration of the judiciary. Their tenure was marred by allegations of widespread corruption, prolonged case backlogs, and general administrative decay.
In their place, President Kiir appointed Benjamin Bak Deng as Chief Justice and Ladu Nyombe as Deputy Chief Justice. The duo has pledged to clean up the judiciary and restore public confidence in the justice system, beginning with enforcing discipline and productivity among court staff.
According to the circular, the new official working days are Monday through Friday, with Saturdays and Sundays designated as holidays. For administrative, professional, and technical staff—including directors, accountants, clerks, and storekeepers—working hours are set from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For unclassified staff, such as drivers, cleaners, and messengers, working hours begin at 7:30 a.m. and also end at 4:00 p.m.
A one-hour lunch break will run from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. All employees are expected to report to work on time, with warnings that habitual lateness or early departures will result in disciplinary measures, including possible dismissal.
“Every Head of a Unit in the Judiciary of South Sudan is required to notify their employees to comply with this administrative notification,” the circular reads, adding that compliance will be considered in decisions related to overtime for unclassified staff.
The restoration of official working hours is seen as a significant step in the broader reform agenda of the judiciary, which has long faced criticism for inefficiency and inaccessibility. With new leadership at the helm and presidential backing, there is renewed hope that the justice sector may finally be on the path to recovery.
