The Bar Association coalition calls all Advocates in the country to unite and acknowledge the ongoing internal power struggles within South Sudan.
Addressing media on Wednesday, Wani Stephen said that the Association declare to participate in the upcoming electoral processes.
“We urge all Advocates in the Republic of South Sudan to join our campaign to end the leadership dispute in the Bar and realize the aspirations of all Advocates and Lawyers in South Sudan. we remain committed to upholding the principles of the supremacy of the rule of law and respect for democratic practices.
He added that the cognizant of the gaps created by the absence of a legitimate Bar Association and the deteriorating status of the legal profession note the negative impact of the status quo on the Bar and the overall declining professionalism.
“Lack of accountability and lack of transparency in the former Bar Associations leadership. Pursuant to the Judgment of the Supreme Court of the Republic of South Sudan in SC/CIV-App No. 30/2021 made on 20th March 2024, which resolved the legality concerns and dissolved the former Bar Associations. The aforementioned Judgment further provided a roadmap for the conduct of a credible, free, and fair elections for the South Sudan Bar Association,”
He revealed that the principles of the supremacy of the rule of law, Professionalism and Integrity, Diversity and Inclusion, and Transparency and Accountability, the core values upon which our campaign is founded. “We do hereby reaffirm our steadfast commitment to our vision of establishing a stronger unified, independent, efficient, and professional Bar Association in South Sudan. We have decided to form an inclusive alliance of Advocates which includes Advocates from all the (10) States, and the administrative areas of South Sudan under the Leadership of Advocate Arop Malueth Manon our candidate for the Presidency of the South Sudan Bar Association, Advocates Emmanuel Abraham Gandhi as our candidate for the Deputy President of the Bar Association, and Advocate Stephen Martin Nechar as a candidate for the Secretary General of the Bar Association,”