South Sudan judges on Friday vowed to go on with the general strike and stand in solidarity with their colleagues who have been dismissed by President Kiir, despite punitive threats by the government.
"We the general assembly of Justice and judges across South Sudan, in our urgent meeting held at the Judiciary headquarters in Juba and in all the states, on this 14th day of July, 2017, have resolved to continue with our open strike in solidarity with our honourable dismissed justices and judges until our demands are met," reads a statement signed by a newly assigned committee chairman.
The striking judges further said they convened an urgent meeting at which they decided to stand in solidarity with their colleagues who have been dismissed by President Kiir on Wednesday.
The statement pointed out that the general assembly decided to set up an eight-member judges committee and elected Justice Bol Lul Wang as the new chairman of the assembly of judges and justices across South Sudan.
The judges said the matter has now been placed in the hand of President Salva Kiir to decide on either meet all the demands, including immediate reinstatement of the dismissed members or dismiss all on strike.