South Sudan: Bentiu Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp Court opens today to strengthen access to justice

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In collaboration with the Unity State Government, the Judiciary of South Sudan (JOSS) and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs (MoJCA), the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is supporting the deployment of the Bentiu Internally Displaced Persons Camp Court from 7–26 September 2026.
The Bentiu IDP Camp Court is an initiative of the Unity State Government’s Task Force on Combating Drug Abuse and Gang Violence, bringing together security, justice and health actors.
The Court is being deployed in cooperation with the Community High Committee (CHC) of the Bentiu IDP Camp in response to repeated concerns and requests from the community for stronger justice and rule of law mechanisms to address drug use, gang violence and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), particularly affecting children and youth.
The Court, which begins operations today, will hear cases relating to SGBV, drugs and gang violence. Its deployment aims to bring the formal justice system directly to residents of the IDP camp and an opportunity for serious offences to be investigated and adjudicated.
This deployment builds on the re-establishment of the Judiciary in Unity State in May 2026 after 13 years of absence and the seven mobile courts deployed across Unity State since 2024 to combat impunity, reduce violence, deter crime and contribute to peace and security in the State.
The Bentiu IDP Camp Court is funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Juba.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).