Lawyers in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal State have recommitted themselves to promoting the rule of law and justice for all, explaining that South Sudanese communities require better legal services.
The lawyers made the statement on 29 May while electing the president of the South Sudan Bar Association and other officials.
Last Wednesday, the electoral committee announced that Arop Malueth Manoon of the Advocates Alliance Group (AAG) won the race with 719 votes against 700 votes garnered by Reech Ring Bol of the Reform and Prosperity Group (RPG).
Some of the advocates who talked to Radio Tamazuj said there is a need for collaboration, the development of legal mechanisms, and the promotion of justice and democracy in the Republic of South Sudan.
Chan Bol said collaboration between the advocates and judges is expected to shape the justice landscape in the state and country.
“In this new period, we are developing all legal mechanisms; there shall be a collaboration between the Bar Association and the judges so that there will be monitoring of the judiciary and some parts of the law may be amended to allow the gap to be addressed so that justice is in its place,” said Bol.
Another lawyer, Moris Autiak, said Northern Bahr el Ghazal State will enjoy a new phase of democracy promotion and quick resolution of court cases.
“Northern Bahr el Ghazal State is spearheading democracy because the lawyers have one target to establish a united Bar Association,” he explained. “Sometimes a client produces an appeal and the courts delay the processes and all this has been happening because there was no proper association, but when a good association comes into power, it will partner with the judiciary, and the problems of our people will be resolved.”
The Chairperson for Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Bar Association, Garang Akok Mading, said South Sudan is a democratic state and all citizens can enjoy fundamental freedoms without pressures and setbacks.
“Democracy promotes justice among people and our country is a democratic state and we want to practice democracy with full freedoms without pressures and shortages because this is needed in a democratic process,” he asserted.
Akok called for legal justice and condemned any attempts to suppress justice and the legal process.
“Legal justice is our responsibility and as lawyers, we have to promote justice among local communities and we are here to confirm that any attempt to block someone’s rights to justice is considered incorrect in the law,” he added.