Twelve South Sudan judges who for the last two months (since May 2) have been on strike over poor pay, poor working conditions and unfavorable living conditions, have finally been sacked by Salva Kiir, the South Sudan President – said Reuters on Thursday.
“On Wednesday evening, Salva Kiir issued a decree that dismissed a group of 12 judges who went on strike, in a bid to force reform in the judicial system,” said Akol Paul Kordit, the Deputy Information Minister.
Due to the current and ongoing condition in South Sudan, the government is unable to pay its workers thus civil servants and soldiers going months without pay, as reports say.
The world’s youngest country has since 2013 been under a civil war. This happened two years after the country had gained her independence when the President, Salva Kiir fired his deputy Riek Machar. This is believed to be the major cause of conflicts along ethnic lines.
The conflict has led to many deaths, slashed oil revenues and paralyzed agriculture, leaving the government in a very critical situation.
“These judges who were supposed to deliver justice, obstructed justice instead, they denied our people justice for reasons that could be resolved through administrative channels,” added the Deputy Information Minister.
Amongst the sacked includes the appeals court judges who demanded that the chief justice resigned on grounds that he obstructed the judicial system, Charles Abyei Jok, President of the High Court in Wau plus more judges that he appointed and promoted.
“We will sit down and hear from the general assembly about what the next step will be,” informed Guri Raymondo, the judges’ union spokesman.
Sources show that, junior judges in South Sudan earn a salary of 4,000 South Sudan pounds which is equivalent to $25 a month, in a country where a kilogram of rice is said to cost 130 South Sudan pounds.
Reporter: Shamilah Namuddu
