People seeking redress for crimes committed against them at the Rumbek Public Prosecutor’s office appeared to have entered a grim reality until recently.
The structure was in disrepair. Paint was peeling off cracked walls, and cobwebs brushed up against the heads of residents in need of legal assistance.
Despite its shabby appearance, this office has been a mainstay in the lives of communities, resolving complex criminal cases in inclement weather.
The overcrowded rooms were unbearably hot in the summer, and the thin roof leaked profusely during the rainy season.
Dedicated justice officials did their best to ensure the rule of law was followed and have been instrumental in preventing cycles of violence, despite the fact that the circumstances hampered their effectiveness.
All of that changed when the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) renovated and furnished the entire building, recognising the critical role played by this office in the lives of community members.
According to the UN Peacekeeping mission’s John Oziegbe, team leader of the Human Rights Division in Rumbek, the logic behind this intervention is simple.
“If the State Prosecutor’s office continues to have a huge backlog of cases because it lacks a proper structure that provides prosecutors with the needed space and facilities to do their job, it results in delays in the justice process,” he explains.
“The associated ripple effect—increase in armed attacks; cattle raids, theft, and violence against women. All these lead to insecurity and threats to civilian life,” he adds. “Therefore, this small-scale assistance by UNMISS feeds into the larger goal of sustained peace in Lakes and across the country.”
For Peter Maliab Chieny, the Mayor of Rumbek town, there is a bonus. “Previously, many people wouldn’t report crimes because the structure and appearance of the Public Prosecutor’s Office didn’t inspire trust. With this new building, that has changed. Everything is light and airy; it emboldens us to have more faith in the legal system, and ultimately, will contribute to upholding law and order for all,” he said eloquently.
The renovation was carried out as part of the mission’s Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) programme, which focuses on small-scale, low-budget infrastructure upgrades that address pressing public needs and foster trust.