UNDP-backed mobile court frees 82 inmates, clears case backlog in South Sudan’s Jonglei

BOR – A mobile court session supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bor has concluded, leading to the release of 82 inmates and completing nearly 70% of its caseload, officials announced on Wednesday.

The month-long judicial session, which ran from Oct. 27 to Nov. 26 at the Jonglei State Central Prison, reviewed more than 100 case files involving inmates accused of minor offences.

The court initially ordered the release of 57 inmates last week, followed by an additional 25 on Wednesday. The initiative was launched to help decongest the overcrowded prison and address a longstanding backlog of cases.

Wilfred Gitara, a UNDP Rule of Law Officer, said the mobile court was deployed specifically to address the more than 600 criminal cases that had accumulated in Bor and the surrounding areas.

He explained that the UNDP and the Judiciary assigned four judges to the court—two with High Court powers and two from the County Court—to expedite proceedings.

“The court managed more than 100 cases, including 35 serious criminal matters. It also reviewed case files from inmates detained through customary court processes, leading to the release of 57 inmates out of the 101 files reviewed,” Gitara said.

The official noted that approximately 25% of the remaining cases could not be finalized due to limited time and funding.

Gitara encouraged residents to continue seeking justice through the permanent High Court after the mobile court’s temporary session ended.

“We have a judge permanently assigned to Jonglei State who will continue handling cases after this session,” he said.

The mobile court initiative is part of a wider effort to strengthen access to justice, reduce prolonged detention, and improve the rule of law in remote communities across South Sudan.