The seventeen inmates released from Juba Central Prison. (Photo: Michael Daniel/Eye Radio).

The Director of National Prison Services in Juba says the main facility receives 40 suspected gangs, mostly young people on a daily basis.

General Henry Kuany revealed this during an inspection visit by Central Equatoria Deputy governor and the Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Ruben Madol on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

He said some of the suspects have been in prison for a long time without court trial sessions.

General Kuany says this has led to overcrowding at the main prison in Juba which is struggling with accommodation and providing food to the inmates.

“The problem that we face in Juba is that we are waiting for those waiting to be tried so that we can transfer them to the states. But we are obliged to keep those waiting,” said Gen. Henry Kuany.

“We receive every day forty suspected young men known as gangs who are left in prison without trial. We are facing problems with accommodating this large number and providing food, drink, sleeping places, and hygiene.”

For her part, the Deputy Governor of Central Equatoria state, Sarah Nene Redento criticized the judiciary for the backlog of cases and appealed to the institution to decide on the cases.

“You, as men of law, know what your role is. You know that the prisoner has a right that must be given to him according to the Declaration of Human Rights And not to transgress the right of prisons in terms of the waiting period for trial, as well as the judiciary to decide cases,” said Sarah Nene Redento.

In response, the Minister of Justice, Ruben Madol vowed to address the concerns.

“All issues and challenges facing the judiciary, police, and advocates are connected together when it comes to accountability, and every one of us needs to play our role to find a way to solve it,” Ruben Madol said.

In April 2021, the authorities at Juba Central Prison said overcrowding at the facility was straining efforts to provide services to inmates.

Pak Anjar, the deputy director general of the central prison blamed overcrowding in the prison for delayed trials of inmates by the judiciary.