Juba Residents File Intent to Sue Government for Neglect

Residents of South Sudan’s capital threatened to sue the government on Wednesday, accusing it of failing to provide basic services in their neighborhoods for many years…A letter of intent to sue is a formal notice a plaintiff serves to a defendant or its representatives, warning of impending legal action if concerns are not addressed. “We are intending to sue the National Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the National Road Authority, and the Juba City Council. The reason is that they failed to deliver services to citizens in the areas of Hai Referendum, Mia Saba, and Gudele,” he said. He added that the justice minister, as the government’s attorney general, must be given legal notice before a lawsuit against a government institution can proceed…The lawyer said the legal threat was a wake-up call and that the group hopes to resolve the concerns out of court. “In these affected areas, roads are cut off, there are no health facilities, schools are not accessible, and people cannot move to the town,” Majok said. He expects the Justice Ministry to convene a discussion with the accused institutions…Majok stated that every citizen has a right to basic services and that if the issue is not addressed, they will proceed with the lawsuit and may expand the case to include other affected areas. Radio Tamazuj