THE ROLE OF CUSTOMARY COURTS IN THE DELIVERY OF JUSTICE IN SOUTH SUDAN By VICENT MUSEKE Student Number 46067582 A Postgraduate Dissertation Submitted in Accordance with the Requirements for The Award of the Degree of Master of Laws (LLM) At the University of South Africa School of Graduate Studies Supervisor: Ms. NF Dlamini-Ndwandwe Date: September 2015 DECLARATION I Vicent Museke, hereby declare that, the dissertation entitled The Role of Customary Courts in the Delivery of Justice in South Sudan is my own work and that, all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. Signed: Vicent Museke (Candidate) MV i | P a g e APPROVAL FOR SUBMISSION This dissertation has been submitted for examination with my approval as supervisor. Signed ………………………………………. Date ……………………………………………… Ms. NF Dlamini-Ndwandwe ii | P a g e ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am deeply grateful to my supervisor Ms. NF Dlamini-Ndwandwe, as my advisor throughout my LLM studies. Her commitment in ensuring quality style of presentation, invaluable advice and encouragement is highly appreciated. I always appreciated her constructive comments that widely opened my mind on several issues that, I was in position to address in an exhaustive manner. In no uncertain terms, I am grateful to my personal friend in the Judiciary of South Sudan, Justice Dr. Raimondo Geri Legge, who influenced me to undertake a study on the justice system in South Sudan. I am blessed with a wonderful family and friends who encouraged and supported my work. My wife Twesigye Museke who has always supported my choices, my daughters Kirabo and Suubi Museke whose smiles are a big inspiration to me. I cannot forget my colleagues at UNDP South Sudan (Rumbek Field Location) with their encouragement and inspiring jokes. I appreciate their camaraderie and spirit of collegiality. Above all, I thank God my creator who provided me with the wisdom, determination and resources to complete this study. This research and the friendship I have been privileged to develop during this work have immensely enriched my life and spirit. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity of having explored with others and contributed to the available literature on the role of customary courts in the delivery of justice not only in South Sudan but the whole of Africa. iii | P a g e LIST OF ABBREVATIONS CL: Customary Law CLC: Customary Law Courts CPA: Comprehensive Peace Agreement CPCA: Criminal Procedure Code Act GONU: Government of National Unity GOS: Government of Sudan GOSS: Government of South Sudan ICSS: Interim Constitution of South Sudan JOSS: Judiciary of South Sudan LGA: Local Government Act, 2009 MOLACD: Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development ROSS: Republic of South Sudan SPLA: Sudan People’s Liberation Army SPLM: Sudan People’s Liberation Movement TA: Traditional Authority TCSS: Transitional Constitution of South Sudan, 2011. TCSS: Transitional Constitution of South Sudan UNDP: United Nations Development Programme iv | P a g e ABSTRACT This study examines the role of customary courts in the delivery of justice in South Sudan. In doing so, it analyses the legal background, the hierarchy and composition of the customary courts. The considerations behind the constitutional recognition of the customary law courts in the current constitutional dispensation and the jurisdiction of customary courts are limited to customary matters and only criminal cases with a customary interface. It is noted that the customary Judges do not only exercise judicial functions but also play executive and legislative functions which contravene the constitutional principle of separation of powers. Reconciliation and compensation are noted as the major principles applied in the customary law courts. The major concern is that most practices in the customary law courts violate fundamental human rights. KEY TERMS Customary law courts, traditional authority, legal dualism, statutory courts, customary law, human rights, jurisdiction, criminal cases, customary interface. v | P a g e TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ................................................................................................................................................ i APPROVAL FOR SUBMISSION ........................................................................................................................ ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................................................................. iii LIST OF ABBREVATIONS ............................................................................................................................... iv ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................................................... v CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 1.1. BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY: ............................................................................................................ 1 1.1.2. Emerging Legal Pluralism in South Sudan: .......................................................................................... 4 1.1.3. Effects of war on the Customary Justice System: ............................................................................. 13 1.2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: ........................................................................................................ 15 1.3.1. General Aim: ..................................................................................................................................... 18 1.3.2. Specific Objectives: .................................................................................................................... 18 1.4. Hypotheses: ................................................................................................................................... 19 1.5. METHODOLOGY: ......................................................................................................................... 19 1.5.1. Literature Review: .......................................................................................................................... 19 1.5.2. Observation and Interview: ........................................................................................................... 20 1.5.3. Limitations: .................................................................................................................................... 20 1.5.4. Scope of the Study: ........................................................................................................................ 21 1.6. Chapter Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 22 CHAPTER TWO: ........................................................................................................................................... 23 THE CUSTOMARY LAW COURTS AND TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY IN SOUTH SUDAN: HISTORICAL AND CURRENT PERSPECTIVES ............................................................................................................................. 23 2.1. Introduction: ................................................................................................................................... 23 2.2. Historical Background of the Customary Law Courts in South Sudan: .......................................... 24 vi | P a g e 2.2.1. Precolonial Period .......................................................................................................................... 24 2.2.2. Colonial Era ..................................................................................................................................... 25 2.2.3. Post-Colonial Period ........................................................................................................................ 28 2.3. Customary Law Courts under the Current Legal Framework: ......................................................... 31 2.3.1. General Competence of the Customary Law Courts: ..................................................................... 31 2.4. Constitutional Recognition of Customary Law Courts: ................................................................... 37 2.5. Hierarchy and Composition of the Customary Law Courts in South Sudan: .................................. 41 2.5.1. The ‘C’ Courts: ................................................................................................................................. 42 2.5.2. The “B” Courts or Regional Courts: ................................................................................................. 45 2.5.3. The ‘A’ or Chief Courts: ................................................................................................................... 46 2.5.4. Town Bench Courts: ........................................................................................................................ 47 2.6. Guiding Principles in the Customary Law Courts: ........................................................................... 48 2.6.1. Compensation: ................................................................................................................................ 49 2.6.2. Mediation and Conciliation: ............................................................................................................ 55 2.6.3.