17³Ô¹ÏÍø

BENTIU/JUBAÌý–ÌýFollowing the appointment of a high court judge and a first-grade judge to Bentiu, Unity state, by the Judiciary of South Sudan, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (17³Ô¹ÏÍø) is supporting the deployment of a mobile court here. These judges have been appointed after a 12-year absence of permanent judges in the state.

The Bentiu mobile court, which begins today, is expected to handle a combination of criminal and civil matters, including serious criminal cases such as murder, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).

On 21 September, 17³Ô¹ÏÍø facilitated the advance deployment of prosecutors, investigators and a victims’ advocate to Bentiu to begin receiving and processing criminal complaints. Since the court was announced, reporting of criminal cases for investigation and potential referrals has more than doubled, including reports of SGBV related cases. So far, more than 100 criminal cases have already been reported prior to the arrival of the court, including 21 SGBV-related cases.

This initiative has been actioned in collaboration with the Unity State government, South Sudan’s judiciary and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

The Bentiu mobile court is funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Juba.

Notes to Editors:

• The Bentiu mobile court will operate from 29 September to 25 October 2025.
• The State Governor and senior representatives from the Judiciary, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and the National Prisons Service will represent their institutions at today’s opening ceremony, where the Governor intends to return the court premises to the Judiciary to enable them to operate permanently. Notably, one of the two judges deployed has been serving on the Gender Based Violence and Juvenile Court in Juba.
• Since 2013, sustained conflict and insecurity forced the withdrawal of judges and prosecutors from Unity State. In their absence, residents have relied on customary courts to resolve disputes, including serious crimes beyond their jurisdiction. Access to the formal justice system throughout the State has been limited to mobile courts for over a decade.
• In 2024 and 2025, 17³Ô¹ÏÍø supported the deployment of five mobile courts across Unity State, including the first courts in Koch, Mayom and Leer counties since 2013. The growing demand for justice also prompted the Governor to support a mobile court in Bentiu in December 2024. While no cases were decided by the formal justice system in Unity State in 2023, judges decided 314 cases in 2024 and the first half of 2025.
• Following the appointment of permanent judges to Unity State, the court premises will be returned to the Judiciary by the Unity State government. Other requirements for the permanent deployment of the judges will also be discussed during the mobile court.
• We hopeÌýyour organizations can travel or work with media colleagues in these locations to cover this initiative.

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Contact: 17³Ô¹ÏÍø Spokesperson, Priyanka Chowdhury atÌýchowdhury20@un.orgÌýorÌýunmiss-spokesperson@un.org