(GREATER PIBOR ADMINISTRATIVE AREA) – For generations, Greater Pibor has been a land rich in cultural traditions, where communities celebrate identity through ceremonies, spiritual practices, and distinctive attire. Yet alongside these positive customs, cycles of cattle raiding, sexual violence, and child abduction have left deep scars. These harmful practices, often normalised in local conflicts, have long gone unpunished, fuelling revenge attacks and instability.
To address this entrenched impunity, a mobile court supported by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the South Sudan Reconciliation, Stabilization and Resilience Trust Fund was recently deployed to Pibor. The initiative has already made a significant impact in tackling crimes that might otherwise have gone unresolved.
“Through the mobile court, UNMISS has helped the people of South Sudan a lot. It has saved many lives, because when people take revenge in the absence of formal justice, they use guns, and the death toll is high,” said High Court Judge Sebit Bullen Lako.
Over a period of four weeks, the court heard 16 complex criminal cases and delivered five convictions. In addition, it adjudicated 10 civil cases, most of them related to land disputes, which are a frequent source of community tension.
This marks the second deployment of a mobile court to the Greater Pibor Administrative Area in 2025. Combined, the courts have so far dealt with 61 cases this year, including 37 criminal and 24 civil matters.
| Case Type | Number of Cases (2025) | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal | 37 | 5 convictions in latest session |
| Civil | 24 | 10 resolved in latest session |
| Total | 61 | Justice delivered |
The growing number of victims willing to come forward reflects increasing confidence in the justice process. This, observers say, also reduces the likelihood of revenge killings and community violence.
“While we cannot blame a community if they never know what justice is, there is a need to demonstrate that formal systems provide a better form of accountability,” said Geetha Pious, Head of the UNMISS Field Office.
Local lawyers also believe that the presence of the court will gradually transform attitudes.
“Now most of the cases have been handled by the court, according to the law, I believe nobody will return to asserting their rights through their own hands, in terms of revenge, because this process has demonstrated that the court has jurisdiction and can resolve cases appropriately,” said defence lawyer Marko Sebit.
To ensure these gains are sustained, South Sudan’s judiciary is preparing to assign a permanent judge to the area. UNMISS has further supported justice delivery by constructing a new courthouse to replace deteriorating infrastructure and is advocating for investment in a proper prison and functioning police stations.
“We have to keep that momentum ongoing because the judiciary, the justice system, is necessary and paramount for sustainable peace and development for any society,” added Pious.
Community leaders also emphasised the broader impact of UNMISS support beyond the justice sector.
“UNMISS has played a significant role in terms of peace and security and also in terms of development, because all these things are interconnected. Their work protecting civilians and building infrastructure, including roads and the airstrip, have made a significant contribution to stability and peace in our area,” said Gola Boyo Gola, Chief Administrator of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.
