The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has announced plans to establish special mobile courts in Jonglei State to address cases related to cattle raiding and child abduction.
Speaking on Saturday at the welcoming ceremony for Jonglei State Governor Dr. Riek Gai, Geetha Pious, Head of the UNMISS Bor Field Office, emphasized that the mobile courts will uphold the rule of law.
“The rampant cattle raiding and abduction of children and women are severely affecting the daily lives of the people in Jonglei and Greater Pibor. The selling of children and women is a serious issue, and this must stop,” she stated.
“UNMISS will support the establishment of special and mobile courts to uphold the rule of law in Jonglei State,” she added.
Pious urged state leadership to take concrete steps to address security challenges in order to curb cattle raiding and child abduction.
She also reaffirmed UNMISS’ continued support for the people of Jonglei State.
Once established, these courts will handle cases of cattle raiding, women and child abduction between the communities of Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.
Despite several peace agreements aimed at ending these practices, cases of cattle raiding and the abduction of women and children persist between the communities of Jonglei and Greater Pibor.
In 2021, communities of Bor, Gawar, Lou Nuer, Anyuak, and Murle deliberated on the issues of insecurity and inter-communal violence in Jonglei State and the GPAA in Juba.
Another peace agreement known as Pieri peace agreement was signed in 2022 to end the suffering caused by inter-communal violence among the Murle, Lou and Gawaar Nuer and Dinka communities of Jonglei State.
The establishment of mobile courts is seen as a crucial step toward strengthening the justice system and deterring such crimes in the region.
