Advocates in Eastern Equatoria State said they reject the outcome of South Sudan Bar Association’s general assembly meeting which recently took place in Juba, saying all members were not invited.

The complaint came after some members of the South Sudan Bar Association elected Advocate Issa Muzamil as their chairperson. The Bar Association had been witnessing leadership wrangles.

Speaking to reporters in Torit town last Thursday, Juma Joe Adriano, the Eastern Equatoria Bar Association representative vowed not to recognize the outcome of the two-day general assembly meeting held in Juba last week, insisting it did not include law actors from other states.

He urged the organizers to call for another general assembly meeting. “We are not happy with what happened in Juba. The Bar Association called for a general assembly and we in Eastern Equatoria State were not informed. We have over 20 advocates who are practicing now, yet we were not informed,” Juma explained.

Susan Evee, an advocate, said the Juba meeting was illegally held. “What took place in Juba was not legal and if they want this general assembly to be recognized, all the lawyers must he invited,” she said.

Meanwhile, advocate Simon Frederick Pasquale, urged the Bar Association leadership to consider their complaints. “We are appealing and announcing to all the media and to the people of South Sudan that we shall not recognize the new body that will be formed after the general assembly,” he stressed.

Peter Moyoyo Saturlino, another advocate in Torit, urged the Bar Association leadership to stop politicizing the body, saying it will affect the country’s legal system.

He said the Advocates Act, which says a recognized number of voters be present during elections, should be respected by all law actors.