SPLA-IO Accused of Detaining Civilian Boats, Demanding $4,000 Along Sobat River ‎

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‎ Boat ferrying civilians  Nasir, Upper Nile State  ‎Authorities in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, have accused forces loyal to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army In Opposition (SPLA-IO) of detaining civilian riverboats and demanding ransom-like payments of up to $4,000 from traders and passengers along the Sobat River. ‎ ‎According to Nasir County Commissioner James Gatwech Joak, several boats traveling from Matar in Nasir County to Malakal were intercepted by SPLA-IO soldiers in Yakuach, an area in Nyirol County, Jonglei State. ‎ ‎“Our traders paid local taxes to SPLA-IO in Mandeng before setting off. But on reaching Yakuach, they were detained again and told to pay an additional four thousand U.S. dollars,” Commissioner Gatwech said. ‎ ‎He explained that the detained boat operators and traders were reportedly held for four days while armed men demanded more payments.  ‎ Some of the passengers were women, children, and patients traveling for medical treatment in Malaka...
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Southern Unity: Mobile Court Brings Hope to Communities After a Decade ‎

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‎For the first time in more than a decade, communities in Leer, Mayiendit, Panyijjar, and Koch Counties are seeing a glimmer of justice. On April 15, 2025, a mobile court officially began operations in southern Unity State, bringing with it long awaited accountability for serious crimes including murder, rape, and gender-based violence. The court will operate until May 9 and is expected to hear over 60 cases.

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‎The initiative marks a historic return of formal justice to a region scarred by years of conflict and neglect. 

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‎Unity State Governor Riek Bim Top Long launched the court in a ceremony attended by more than 2,000 residents a powerful signal of just how urgently the people have been waiting for justice.

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‎“We are working with the judiciary and partners to bring judges permanently back to Unity,” said Governor Long. “This will enable those who have suffered harm to receive justice.”

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‎This mobile court isn’t just a temporary fix. It’s part of a broader effort supported by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Reconciliation, Stabilization and Resilience, and the Norwegian Embassy. 

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‎These partners are working to restore trust in legal systems and bring justice to places where traditional mechanisms alone cannot address complex crimes.

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‎Stella Abayomi, the acting head of the UNMISS field office in Unity, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “Justice and accountability are key to decreasing crime, reducing violence against women, and improving security.”

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‎To prepare for the hearings, 20 new investigators have been trained particularly to handle cases of sexual violence. Prosecutors and investigators are now actively processing complaints and building cases across the region.

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‎For many, the mobile court is a long-overdue answer to years of impunity. Maria Nyadak, a 20-year-old resident of Leer, expressed her relief: “We are excited to welcome the mobile court because it will help stop early and forced marriages in our community. Women and girls have suffered for too long without justice.”

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‎While temporary for now, the presence of this court represents a renewed commitment to human rights, the rule of law, and healing for communities that have endured far too much.

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‎Unity State is turning a page and justice, at last, is part of the story.

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