Mobile court initiative reduces criminal case backlog in South Sudan

The United Nations Development Programme and the Judiciary of South Sudan launched a 30-day mobile court initiative in Wau and Raja Counties in Western Bahr el Ghazal State.

This project aims to clear a long list of criminal cases, shorten the time people spend in pre-trial detention, and improve legal protections for victims. Judicial officer Peter Mustafa said the mobile court has already addressed several serious crimes since it began on 4 November.

The court, which includes High Court judges like Justice Andrew Joshua Lado, handles between 40 and 50 cases every day. Officials hope to clear a large portion of the backlog by the end of the month.