(MALAKAL) – Communities in Upper Nile continue to face immense hardship from ongoing conflict, severe food insecurity and the burden of hosting more than 1.1 million refugees fleeing the war in neighbouring Sudan. Despite efforts by the United Nations peacekeeping mission, humanitarian partners, and local authorities, conditions remain critical, with the absence of accountability fuelling further instability.
Since the outbreak of civil war in 2013, many police posts, courts, judicial residences, and prisons have been destroyed or left in severe disrepair. Without a functioning judicial system, civilians often resort to taking the law into their own hands, leading to revenge killings, destruction of property, and further displacement.
In response, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has implemented several initiatives to rebuild the formal justice system. These include constructing a new court and judicial residence in Malakal, establishing five courtrooms in Renk, and deploying mobile courts to reach communities in remote areas.
Alfred Orono Orono, Head of the UNMISS Field Office in Malakal, emphasised that restoring the rule of law is essential for peace.
“If people have a case, rather than taking it into their own hands, they must take it to the police to handle and the law will then take its course in court,” he said. “Our top priority is to work with government, our partner for peace, to bring stability to this region by empowering the justice system and ensuring everyone has access to justice.”
Through the implementing partner, Humanitarian Organization for Empowerment, UNMISS has recently built an additional prosecutor’s residence. This new facility will allow prosecutors to perform their duties more efficiently, providing private office space separate from police and other legal officers, which is essential for impartial and transparent preparation of cases.
“Sharing offices made it much harder to carry out our responsibilities. These new spaces will also help judges arriving from Juba to settle in and serve the people of Upper Nile effectively,” explained Nyanagun Arop Mony Kuach, Head of Legal Administration.
While these improvements may seem modest compared with the scale of challenges in Upper Nile, each step toward strengthening the justice system contributes to preventing violence and building the peace that local communities have long sought.
| Initiative | Location | Purpose / Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| New Court and Judicial Residence | Malakal | Provide infrastructure for courts and judicial staff |
| Five Courtrooms | Renk | Expand access to legal proceedings |
| Mobile Courts | Upper Nile | Bring justice services to remote communities |
| New Prosecutor’s Residence | Malakal | Support impartial, effective prosecution and ease judge deployment |
