South Sudan commences judicial reform committee

First Vice President Riek Machar Teny on Thursday inaugurated a 12-member steering committee charged with undertaking judicial reforms prescribed in the 2018 revitalized peace deal. 

“We in the government will double our efforts to ensure that they do their work within the time specified which is six months,” Machar said during the inauguration ceremony of the Judicial Reform Committee (JRC) in Juba.

The committee headed by Justice James Ogola, Principal Judge Emeritus of Uganda is mandated to review the judiciary Act and build the capacity of judicial officers and infrastructure.

Other members of this committee, include representatives from the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and signatory parties to the revitalized peace deal.

Machar said the government will assist the committee to accomplish its task within six months.

“We now have a judiciary which we expect to be independent, to be transparent and to ensure that the rule of law prevails in the country,” he said.

Ruben Madol Arol, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, said the committee is mandated to amend relevant laws, restructure and empower judges.

 “The committee will reform judiciary by way of amending relevant laws, restructuring and empowerment of judges,” Madol said.

Justice James Ogola, Principal Judge Emeritus of Uganda, said they will work in collaboration and cooperation with the judiciary leadership on judicial reforms required in the sector.

 “We will work closely with the leadership and the administrators of the existing judiciary to attain the elusive judicial holy reforms,” Ogola said.