82 inmates freed as mobile court concludes judicial session in Bor

BOR – At least 82 inmates have been released in South Sudan’s Jonglei State capital, Bor, after the conclusion of a month-long judicial session and the completion of nearly 70 percent of the caseload by the mobile court, officials announced on Wednesday.

The remaining 25 percent of cases could not be concluded due to time limitations and insufficient funding.

The mobile court, which sat from October 27 to November 26 at the Jonglei State Central Prison, reviewed more than 100 case files involving inmates accused of both minor and serious offences.

Many of these cases had been pending for extended periods, contributing to overcrowding and delays within the justice system. Last week, the court ordered the release of 57 individuals. An additional 25 inmates were freed on Wednesday, bringing the total number of beneficiaries of the intervention to 82.

According to UNDP Rule of Law Officer Wilfred Gitara, the mobile court was dispatched to Bor to help address a backlog of more than 600 criminal cases that had piled up in Bor and the surrounding counties.

He explained that UNDP, working closely with the Judiciary of South Sudan, deployed a team of four judges—two vested with High Court authority and two from the County Court—to fast-track hearings and expedite judicial processes.

“The court managed more than 100 cases, including 35 serious criminal matters. It also reviewed case files of inmates detained through customary court processes, leading to the release of 57 inmates out of the 101 files reviewed,” Gitara said. He added that the initiative specifically targeted cases involving prolonged or arbitrary detention, ensuring that inmates received fair hearings and timely resolutions.

Gitara urged residents of Bor and the wider Jonglei community to continue seeking justice through formal judicial mechanisms even after the mobile court concludes its mission.

“Let us take advantage of these mobile courts to dispose of cases that have been pending for a long time. And remember, we have a judge permanently assigned to Jonglei State who will continue handling cases after this session,” he said.

The mobile court program is part of a broader effort to strengthen access to justice, uphold the rule of law, and decongest correctional facilities across South Sudan, with support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).