South Sudan’s judiciary is at a crossroads following the sudden dismissal of Chief Justice Chan Reec Madut in May 2025. His 13-year tenure was marred by corruption and political interference, but President Salva Kiir’s decision to sack him without due process violated the country’s constitution and raised fears over judicial independence. Now, all eyes are on his successor, Benjamin Baak Deng, a respected jurist tasked with reforming a system plagued by inefficiency, case backlogs, and executive overreach. Deng’s priorities include improving judicial working conditions, enforcing gender representation, and, most critically, resisting political pressure. However, with Kiir’s history of disregarding constitutional procedures, Deng’s success hinges on whether the government will truly allow the judiciary to function independently—or if South Sudan’s courts will remain at the mercy of political whims.
The Conversation
