The South Sudan Advocates Alliance, which has fielded candidates to vie for positions in the Bar Association elections, on Wednesday launched its manifesto after adopting it into its constitution.

Arop Kuol, the Alliance’s presidential candidate for the Bar Association, said the manifesto focuses on qualifications and legal training because most lawyers suffer from language problems.

Speaking during the launch of the Alliance’s manifesto, Kuol said most lawyers are from Arabic language backgrounds, hence the need to teach them English language.

“If the coalition wins the presidency of the Bar Association, the union will provide postgraduate study opportunities for lawyers to obtain doctorates, masters, and other practical certificates,” he stated.

The launch was attended by Ateny Wek Ateny, the former Press Secretary in the Office of the President, Sheikh Juma Saeed, a representative of Muslims in South Sudan, and representatives from the Faculty of Law at the University of Juba and judiciary among other stakeholders.

According to Kuol, the Alliance has a mandate to protect lawyers while on duty and he called for peaceful elections.

On his part, Emmanuel Abraham Kandi, a candidate vying for the position of deputy president of the Bar Association, indicated that the Alliance plans to establish permanent headquarters if his coalition wins the upcoming polls.

Meanwhile, Stephen Martin Nishar, who is the Alliance’s candidate for secretary-general of the Bar Association, said if elected, they will push for higher perks for members to improve their living standards, including the provision of health insurance.

Ateny Wek Ateny, described lawyers as “bright minds,” noting that lawyers are the country’s eyes.

“Lawyers are the ones who solve the country’s problems and correct the country’s course. Please do not mix politics with the legal profession,” he advised. “We do not want any opposition within the Bar Association like politicians in the government and some in the opposition.”

He urged the candidates, in the event they are elected, to audit the academic qualifications of all practicing lawyers to ensure only qualified competent persons serve the public.

Sheikh Juma Saeed, the representative of Muslims at a ceremony, expressed his great happiness at the success of the coalition’s campaign, stressing that the coalition will win in the upcoming elections.

“I am grateful to attend such a program and I would like to stress the word “alliance” because this is a very powerful word that is scaring people around the world,” he said.

Dr. Barnabas Corneo, the representative of the Faculty of Law at the University of Juba, called on lawyers to uphold the good reputation of the legal profession.

“We want state institutions to appear as the lawyers have appeared today because it confirms that the legal profession is a profession of humanity,” he stated.

REPORT: Radio Tamazuj