Local judges in Aweil East County have been asked to suspend all court cases to allow people to farm during the rainy season.

The County authorities issued an order, stopping local courts from operating until the 1st of September.

The move is meant to give people more time to focus on agriculture, Aweil East County acting executive director Augustino Garang Bol Gai has said.

“Small courts that will be established by Payams administrations, until when the courts will resume their operations,” Mr. Gai assured the area residents.

“Some of the chiefs will be nominated as judges to hear cases, but it won’t be like a proper court hearing as such. It will be for resolving simple disputes at the village levels.”

However, some residents have protested against the closure of the courts, saying it will create a backlog of cases.

One community member with a case pending hearing, Majok Mou Mou says the decision will affect him negatively:

“I thought my case would take a short time because it is about something that my family will depend on, something that will not make my family starve due to lack of food.

“I have nowhere to get money to open another case somewhere else. I just need my money to be returned so that I can go and open the case in another court – in order to rescue my family.”

Only courts in Abiem town will continue to handle emergency cases.

Every year, local authorities issue orders, stopping some activities that bring people together with an aim to give people a chance to cultivate.