Wani Steven grew up in Juba and later moved to Khartoum, where he studied law at Al Neelain University. Upon returning to Juba, he interned with Lawrence Korbandy Law Firm, gaining valuable early career experience. After practicing for a few years, he faced a crossroads when offered a position at a high political office and a Chevening scholarship. He chose the latter and travelled to the UK, earning an LLM in Information Technology & IP Law from the University of Sussex.Upon his return, he co-founded Witness Law Advocates, a continental innovation law firm offering legal services throughout East and Northern Africa, specializing in technology and intellectual property law.Wani has over nine years of practical experience in South Sudanese law, with expertise in media, information technology, and intellectual property law. He is currently involved in various projects on content moderation in East and West Africa, advises several ISPs and MNOs in South Sudan, and consults on digital rights and internet access with regional NGOs like LawyersHub and international NGOs like Internet Sans Frontières. He also defends cases related to freedom of speech in South Sudan.In 2022, Wani ran as an independent candidate for one of the nine seats allocated to South Sudan at the East African Legislative Assembly. Though he did not win, the experience earned him significant political milestones. He gained votes from various political factions and ran a campaign primarily funded by youth who believed in his vision.Last month, Wani led the media campaign for the Advocate Alliance in their bid for leadership of the South Sudan Bar Association, the legal body responsible for regulating the legal fraternity in South Sudan. The Advocate Alliance team won the election in a sharply contested race. As of this writing, Wani has been appointed the Deputy Secretary-General of the Bar Association. The new Bar has a significant task ahead to reshape legal practice in the country and introduce necessary reforms during a critical transition period.
