SPECIAL DISTINCTION OF THE JURY
FOR BARS 2026
Since
2017, the Special Mention of the Jury BAR OF THE YEAR is awarded to a Bar
Association for its commitment to the independence of Lawyers, its exemplary
struggle for the Rule of Law and the suffering endured in the defense of Human
Rights
FOR THE YEAR 2026
THE MENTION BAR OF THE YEAR
IS AWARDED TO
The South
Sudan Bar Association (SSBA)
The South Sudan
Bar Association (SSBA) Established in 2024 under the Advocates Act 2013, which
provides the legal framework for regulating the nation s legal profession, in
Juba, the capital of South Sudan, is an organisation of lawyers that governs
practicing advocates and mandated by law to licence advocates, enhance
professional ethics and promote the rule of law in the country. Its aim is to
empower South Sudan lawyers to engage the region s legal framework, access the
East African Court of Justice, support cross-border trade, and advance the rule
of law across East Africa.
The South Sudan
Law Society, despite the ambiguity created by its name, is not a professional
self-regulating body of the legal profession, but rather a civil society
organization, that plays an important and very visible role in the public
debate on the administration of justice. The Bar Association condemns in the
strongest terms the abduction, torture, and extrajudicial killings of civilians
in Sudan and advises the members of the Bar Association to exercise constraints
and refrain from joining or aiding any group that may intend to violate the
law. The Bar Association now admits lawyers who hold at least a bachelor's
degree in law from a recognized institution, pass the full bar examination, and
complete a required internship.
In 2025, the SSBA
offered a shelter to Isaac Ssemakadde, the current Uganda Law Society President
still in self-imposed exile following his alleged targeting by certain members
of the Ugandan judiciary.
In December 2025
South Sudan Bar celebrates its first year with inaugural Annual General
Assembly themed Reaffirming Professional Ethics in the Legal Profession . Just
over a year after its creation, on March 31, 2026, the South Sudan Bar
Association had 219 lawyers, including 33 women and one visually impaired
graduate, following the successful completion of bar examinations. Bar
registration is a mandatory requirement for practicing law, preserving
professional integrity, and promoting the rule of law.
On April 9, 2026,
the South Sudan Bar Association launched a five-year strategic plan to
strengthen the legal profession and improve access to justice throughout the
country. The plan's priorities include building lawyers' capacity through
training and professional development, expanding access to justice for rural
communities and vulnerable groups, and ensuring the Bar Association's
independence as a professional body and strengthening the Bar Association's
role in maintaining public order and promoting the rule of law.
On May 14, 2026
during a meeting organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC), which brought together legal experts, the South Sudan Bar Association
has pledged to strengthen the implementation of International Humanitarian Laws
(IHL) to enhance the protection of civilians during times of conflict.
South Sudan
gained independence on July 9, 2011, following a referendum after the 2005
Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which ended Africa's longest-running civil war
that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. South Sudan is one of Africa's
most diverse countries, home to 64 different ethnic groups. While South Sudan
has been officially at peace since the 2018 agreement, the country continues to
face ongoing challenges since a political standoff between two rival factions
escalated into conflict in December 2013. The rivalry is particularly intense
between the Dinka and Nuer ethnic groups.
BARREAU
DE L ANNEE BAR OF THE YEAR