Mobile courts help expand access to justice in South Sudan

The United Nations has announced its intention to continue supporting a mobile court initiative in South Sudan, aimed at improving access to justice in remote and conflict-affected areas in partnership with the judiciary and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

There are currently two mobile courts operating in Central Equatoria and Unity states.

According to the UN, the mobile court in Central Equatoria has heard 23 cases between March 4 and 19 across Morobo, Yei and Lainya counties. Of these, 12 cases were concluded, including eight involving sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

The other court, deployed in Unity State and based in Leer, also began operations on March 23 and is expected to handle both criminal and civil cases, including serious offenses such as murder, SGBV and conflict-related sexual violence.

Officials say the mobile courts are critical in delivering justice to underserved communities, particularly for women and girls. The Southern Unity court will run until April 17, building on earlier deployments that have significantly increased case resolutions in the region.

According to UNMISS data, while no cases were decided in Unity State in 2023, a total of 449 cases were concluded in 2024 and 2025 following the expansion of mobile courts, indicating a growing demand and improved access to formal justice systems.