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STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / MABAN MOBILE COURT
TRT: 03:33
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
DATELINE: 24 OCTOBER- 05 NOVEMBER 2025, BUNJ, MABAN, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Various shots, family in Maban preparing a meal
2. Close up, pot of food cooking
3. Med shot, children
4. Close up, inmate’s legs chained
5. Med shot, a psychosocial worker counselling a complainant, a victim's mother
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mary Buma, Community leader:
“I am happy with the arrival of the mobile court. I believe it is a good initiative that will allow for the examination of both small and large cases. The court can pass judgment on the accused, ensuring that those convicted face justice, while those who are found innocent are released."
7. Various shots, a court session of a rape of a minor
8. Wide shot, counsellor talking to the family of the rape victim
9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Nancy Sadalla, Mother of rape survivor:
“I am deeply disturbed by what this young man has done to my daughter and believe he deserves a long prison sentence.”
10. Wide shot, court session and rape victim with her aunt
11. Various shots, defense lawyers talking to families of victims outside the court session
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Kiden Scorvia, Counselor:
“We always offer this counselling before. We prepare these persons emotionally so that he cannot fear during the event [hearing], we also prepare them emotionally to participate in court.”
13. Various shots, a court session
14. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Juma Lagu, Community leader:
“In this community, local people marry underage girls even before the age of 18, sometimes in forced marriages. This is a crime according to the law, which is why we have rampant cases of rape.”
15. Various shots, a court session
16. SOUNDBITE (English) Kenneth Isaac, UNMISS Rule of Law Officer:
“Over the past three days, we have seen victims, witnesses, coming to hear their cases, attending court proceedings and all the actors involved are committed and we expect the next one month all the cases that are here in Maban County will be processed.
17. Wide shot, stakeholders and prisoners.
The challenges facing communities in Maban are immense as they confront persistent conflict, flooding, and struggle to host hundreds of thousands of refugees who have crossed the border into this north-eastern part of South Sudan after fleeing fighting in neighboring Sudan. The dire situation is exacerbated by a severe lack of infrastructure and public services, including a functioning judicial system.
To help restore accountability and justice, a mobile court has been deployed with the support of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the South Sudanese judiciary and Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. Funding by the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the court is led by two newly appointed High Court judges who are working to clear a backlog of cases waiting for adjudication since 2020.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mary Buma, Community leader:
“I am happy with the arrival of the mobile court. I believe it is a good initiative that will allow for the examination of both small and large cases. The court can pass judgment on the accused, ensuring that those convicted face justice, while those who are found innocent are released."
Since hearings commenced on 24 October, 16 judgements have been issued, with 11 people convicted and 11 others acquitted. Four sexual and gender-based cases have been decided with two convictions.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Nancy Sadalla, Mother of rape survivor:
“I am deeply disturbed by what this young man has done to my daughter and believe he deserves a long prison sentence.”
Some inmates have spent up to five years waiting for their cases to be heard with other have even died in custody. The mobile court helps to realize the rights of alleged offenders to a fair and speedy trial and ensure they are provided with necessary support.
SOUNDBITE (English) Kiden Scorvia, Counselor:
“We always offer this counselling before. We prepare these persons emotionally so that he cannot fear during the event [hearing], we also prepare them emotionally to participate in court.”
In the absence of a formal justice system, perpetrators of crimes have been able to act with impunity for far too long, particularly in relation to sexual and gender-based violence.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Juma Lagu, Community leader:
“In this community, local people marry underage girls even before the age of 18, sometimes in forced marriages. This is a crime according to the law, which is why we have rampant cases of rape.”
Maban court and similar initiatives across the country help strengthen the rule of law, reduce prolonged and arbitrary detentions, and build trust in the judicial system as a peaceful means of resolving disputes.
SOUNDBITE (English) Kenneth Isaac, UNMISS Rule of Law Officer:
“Over the past three days, we have seen victims, witnesses, coming to hear their cases, attending court proceedings and all the actors involved are committed and we expect the next one month all the cases that are here in Maban County will be processed.
The hearings in Maban, which follows previous successful mobile courts in other parts of Upper Nile, including Malakal and Renk, will conclude on 21 November 2025.
