Yei Mobile Court delivers guilty verdicts in GBV cases, tackles justice backlog

YEI – A mobile court deployed in Greater Yei in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State has concluded its operations after hearing dozens of long-pending criminal cases, including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), offering renewed hope for access to justice in an area that has faced prolonged judicial gaps.

The temporary court, established by the Judiciary of South Sudan in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and supported by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), was convened to address a significant backlog that had accumulated after Yei and surrounding counties went nearly a year without a resident judge.

Court sessions were held from December 5 to 16, 2025, during which 23 serious criminal cases from Yei, Lainya and Morobo counties were heard.

According to officials, judgments were delivered in 10 cases, while the remaining matters are pending further legal procedures. Notably, nine of the concluded cases involved sexual and gender-based violence, all of which resulted in guilty verdicts.

The mobile court followed an earlier investigation mission that documented at least 24 SGBV cases and 22 additional criminal cases across Greater Yei.

Authorities said the findings underscored the urgency of judicial intervention in a region where conflict, displacement and limited state presence have often denied survivors timely access to justice.

Officials involved in the exercise said the initiative was designed not only to reduce the backlog of cases but also to reinforce accountability for serious crimes and restore public confidence in the justice system.

By bringing judicial services closer to affected communities, the mobile court allowed victims and witnesses to participate in proceedings without the burden of travelling long distances to access courts elsewhere.

The exercise was funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Juba as part of broader international efforts to strengthen the rule of law and protect civilians in South Sudan, particularly in conflict-affected and underserved areas.

In a statement shared with Sudan’s Post, UNMISS said the Judiciary of South Sudan has since deployed a county court judge with High Court powers to Yei. The move is expected to ensure continuity in hearing serious criminal cases and prevent the re-emergence of prolonged case backlogs.

UNMISS further emphasised that mobile courts remain a critical mechanism for expanding access to justice in regions affected by insecurity and weak judicial infrastructure.

The mission noted that such initiatives play a vital role in addressing grave crimes, including SGBV, while reinforcing the principle that justice can still be delivered despite logistical and institutional challenges.