Tanzania, May 12 -- The legal fraternity in South Sudan is seeking protection from state security agencies, citing harassment of advocates by the National Security Service.

The agency is accused of targeting especially those who seek redress at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), as lawyers and rights activists avoid the local courts for fear of not getting justice.

In the past two months, South Sudan's security agents have detained two people, one a former mayor, without warrants and denied lawyers access to them and information about their whereabouts.

According to documents filed with the EACJ in Arusha, the NSS has been harassing Wani Santino Jada, an advocate of a citizen who sued the government at the regional court over th...