By Lodu William

The arrival of a High Court Judge to Tonj North of Warrap State has brought in renewed hope and the beginning of justice for many, with long-overdue verdicts.

For nearly six years, residents of Tonj North, a conflict-prone county in the heart of South Sudan’s Warrap State, have lived without access to justice.

However, there is now renewed hope among communities through a new circuit court supported by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

The initiative was part of the ongoing ‘Kong Koc’ Project, funded by the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Reconciliation, Stabilization, and Resilience (RSRTF) and, with a High Court judge.

According to Lena Ellen Becker, UNMISS Justice Advisor, the Court had to extend its tenure from three to five-and-a-half weeks due to the high number of cases.

 “We started with 25 scheduled cases, but ongoing police investigations indicate that more may be added. Our goal is to ensure that no one is left waiting for justice after this deployment,” she explained.

In a report obtained by The City Review, Nyang Lual Akoon noted such justice delivery was life-changing.

Nyang underwent an irreplaceable loss when his brother tragically died in a motorbike accident in September 2024.

The absence of justice only added to the pain of his grief but now, he can finally say justice has been served, with a verdict for customary reparation in his favour.

“It marked a new dawn in Tonj North, a sign that we are moving forward and that accountability is within our reach,” Nyang added.

Marieu Lual Mabior, who was wrongfully accused of theft, also found justice through the court. “I feel fortunate that this court was able to restore my rights in time,” he said.

The Circuit Court’s return strengthened public confidence in the legal system by addressing long-pending cases, alleviating prison overcrowding, and ensuring fair trials, this initiative marks a crucial step toward meaningful legal reform in the state.