14 Convicted as Mundri Mobile Court Delivers Justice
By Kidega Livingstone & UNMISS
A mobile court deployed to Mundri in Western Equatoria State has convicted 14 individuals and acquitted 16 others during hearings conducted between 18 and 31 March 2026.
The court, supported by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) with funding from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Juba, handled a total of 28 criminal cases and two civil cases as part of efforts to expand access to justice in remote areas.
According to court proceedings, nine of the cases involved murder. Of these, three were dismissed, three resulted in acquittals, and three led to convictions. Sentences ranged from six years’ imprisonment to life in jail, alongside substantial fines.
The hearings also exposed a high prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the Greater Mundri area. Six convictions were secured in cases including rape, offering survivors a rare opportunity to access formal justice mechanisms and seek accountability for crimes committed against them.
Throughout the process, UNMISS through its Rule of Law Section and Human Rights Division provided protection and support services in coordination with partners, civil society, and local authorities. These included psychosocial assistance for survivors, families, and the accused, legal support to prepare witnesses for testimony, and logistical facilitation such as transport and accommodation.
UNMISS also extended technical support to judicial authorities, including guidance to prosecutors and investigators, as well as on-site monitoring of court proceedings.
Mobile courts have become a critical tool in South Sudan for addressing case backlogs, reducing prolonged detention, and easing congestion in overcrowded prisons, particularly in areas with limited access to formal judicial institutions.
The Greater Mundri mobile court forms part of broader national and international efforts to strengthen the rule of law and ensure justice is accessible to all communities across the country.
