Kiir’s office pleads with striking judges to resume work

[Elisabeth Janaina]

Kiir’s office pleads with striking judges to resume work

South Sudan’s presidency has appealed to striking judges to resume
work as it plans to find means to meet some of their demands.

Over 270 judges went on strike since May to demand higher salaries,
better working conditions, and the resignation of the country’s chief
justice Chan Reech, whom they accused of ignoring their demands.

The strike paralysed the justice system of the world’s youngest
nation, which has been suffering from a civil war for nearly four
years.

James Wani Igga, the Vice President of South Sudan, said after a
meeting with President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Taban Deng
in Juba yesterday that the president will soon take important steps on
the issue of judges who are still on strike.

“But in the meantime, we appeal to our judges to start work so that we
can clear many of the cases now in the prisons. I think this is
important for our judges to do,” said Igga.

He pointed out that they also discussed the issue of fuel crisis in
the country, saying they agreed to take measures to improve the
situation.

Igga further said the presidency has already put its position gother
regarding the revitalization of the 2015 peace agreement. “Once the
government committee sits, then they will continue to improve on
this,” he said.