The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) has ordered the South Sudan government to appear before it in March 2019 over allegations of unlawful detention of businessman Kerbino Wol Agok, who was arrested in April 2018 and remains in custody without formal charges.
Lawyers for Agok, a prominent philanthropist, claim security forces detained him without informing him of the reasons for his arrest or providing access to legal representation. The Pan-African Lawyers Union (Palu) filed a case in October 2018, citing violations of due process and fundamental rights under regional human rights frameworks.
The legal action seeks court orders to release Agok, restore his frozen assets, reopen his businesses, and secure compensation for damages. Amnesty International praised the court summons as a critical step toward accountability in South Sudan, where systemic human rights abuses have persisted despite international scrutiny.
This marks the first time South Sudan has been brought before the EACJ for alleged rights violations. The case comes amid ongoing concerns about political detentions and government crackdowns, including a 2013 escalation following accusations of a coup plot against President Salva Kiir.
Human rights groups note that over 1 million South Sudanese have been displaced by the country's civil war, with 7 million requiring urgent humanitarian aid. The EACJ proceedings could set a precedent for addressing justice gaps in the region's conflict-affected states.
