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