A faction of the South Sudan Bar Association (SSBA), known as the Reform and Prosperity Team, called for unity among the various factions of the Bar Association ahead of the body’s elections. This call comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to greenlight the elections.
Earlier this year, Senior Advocate James Alteib led the Bar Association in forming an electoral committee to oversee the leadership elections. However, another group filed an injunction with the Supreme Court.
Last month, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of proceeding with the elections, specifying that representatives from different factions of the Bar Associations, Judiciary, and Ministry of Justice would oversee the electoral process.
Speaking to reporters at the Judiciary premises in Juba, Advocate Atong Majok Kur, Deputy Secretary for Information for the Reform and Prosperity Team, welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“This ruling provides clarity amidst the leadership dispute within the SSBA. While reactions from all parties involved are awaited, we remain optimistic that through an election process and constructive dialogue, we can achieve a lasting resolution,” Advocate Atong stated.
“To our peers and fellow advocates across South Sudan, we issue a call for unity. This is the moment to set aside personal ambitions and differences, and unite for the betterment of our esteemed profession and the communities we serve. Through unity, we can elect leaders who uphold the highest ethical standards and embody the essence of the legal profession,” she emphasized.
As legal professionals, Atong stressed that it is their responsibility to seize this momentum to conduct elections, bridge divisions, foster trust, and propel South Sudan forward.
“We have a rare opportunity to demonstrate that by exercising our democratic rights, making mutual concessions, and sharing a commitment to a fairer society, we can choose the right leaders. The future of our nation hinges on our collective ability to navigate this political impasse peacefully and uphold the integrity of our esteemed profession,” Advocate Atong asserted.
Atong highlighted the challenges faced since 2014 in establishing a unified bar association to represent all advocates.
“Since 2014, when the act of parliament was enacted, we have encountered numerous challenges in uniting the advocates. We have only had interim bodies tasked with addressing advocate-related issues. Attempts were made to hold elections in 2014, but they failed due to various issues. Similarly, in 2022, we saw the emergence of two separate Bar Associations, further dividing the advocates,” she explained.
“We proposed holding elections again and convening the general assembly, which was initially scheduled for March 13th. However, some of our colleagues opted to take legal action, asserting their rights as permitted by law,” Atong explained.
“The Judiciary intervened by forming a committee through a judicial decision, which aligns with the court’s ruling. While this decision deviates from the 2013 act, which outlines procedures for calling the general assembly and establishing the electoral committee, it represents a solution amid numerous attempts to resolve the issue. Despite not entirely aligning with the law, we support this approach as it aims to establish a Bar Association that includes all members and fosters a democratic process for electing our leaders,” she clarified.