JUBA CITY, Nov. 15, 2024 — At least 1,553 remand prisoners at Juba National Prison remain uncertain about when their cases will be heard, with some held for years under deteriorating conditions. The overcrowded facility, built to house 300 to 500 inmates, now holds 2,798 prisoners, according to data obtained by Radio Tamazuj.

The prison population includes 668 convicts, 218 condemned inmates, 30 individuals with mental health issues, and 14 foreigners, including four women and eight children accompanying their mothers. Prison Director Maj. Gen. Redento Tongun highlighted systemic issues, including sentencing policies prioritizing imprisonment over alternative measures and lengthy pretrial detentions.

“The overcrowding arises out of sentencing policies that consider imprisonment as the first option instead of the last resort,” Tongun said during a visit by Interior Minister Angelina Teny on Thursday. “Many inmates are on remand, and their cases have not been heard for a very long time.”

Conditions in the facility are dire, with shortages of water, food, and medical supplies. Tongun noted that contractors had ceased providing services due to unpaid bills.

Minister Teny acknowledged the grim conditions and vowed to expedite judicial processes. “We will work to ensure that their cases are brought before the courts,” she said, urging inmates to use their time in prison for personal reform.

Prisoners at Juba National Prison include individuals charged with capital offenses such as murder, robbery, and rape. Rights groups have repeatedly called for urgent reforms to address South Sudan’s overburdened judicial and prison systems.

The situation highlights systemic human rights concerns and the urgent need for judicial reform in South Sudan’s justice system.