Critic says South Sudan Chief Justice ‘a big liability’ to country’s justice system

JUBA – South Sudan’s exiled activist Wani Michael has said that the country’s Chief Justice Chan Reec Madut is a big liability to the judicial system in the world’s youngest country, saying he has done nothing other than overseeing swearing-in ceremonies of government officials appointed by the president.

This comes after the Kenyan opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who lost elections to Deputy President William Ruto said he will be heading to court on Monday to challenge election outcome which he disputed and described as a “joke”.

In a statement on his Facebook page, Michael said while the Kenyan opposition leader is heading to court, President Salva Kiir Mayardit lied that the reason behind the extension of the transitional period for another two years is to prevent election disputes.

“Tomorrow, Raila Odinga is heading to the Supreme Court to challenge the outcomes of the Kenya Presidential election,” Michael wrote.

“Whereas in South Sudan, President Kiir lied to us that the fundamental reason for not conducting elections and extending the Transitional Period is that losers of an election will take to the nearest available bush as an election outcome resolution mechanism or seeking for electoral justice and eventually paving ways for a signed Peace Agreement,” he added.

He said South Sudanese need to get rid of Chief Justice Madut because he has got nothing to do other than swearing-in ceremonies for officials appointed by the president and has become a very big liability for the justice system in South Sudan.

“Moving forward, we must first fire that J1 Chief Justice whose only job is to conduct swearing- in ceremonies at J1. He’s a big liability to our judicial independence and the much-needed judicial reforms,” the outspoken activist said.

“Our people MUST vote-in to power their leaders not the current self-imposed misleaders or conmen, the mere fact that our people will be voting for their leaders is a clear manifestation that they’ll hold them accountable. Failure to deliver on their manifesto or promises, in the next election they’ll be voted out,” he added.