The Special Court investigating the Incident of Nasir has announced that all future hearings in the case against First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven other leaders of the SPLM/A (IO) will be open to the public and the media, marking a significant shift from weeks of closed-door proceedings.
The announcement was made on Tuesday during the court’s 43rd session, which was also the final closed hearing, held at the court’s usual venue, Freedom Hall.
During the session, the defense team cross-examined Prosecution Witness No. 12, continuing its challenge to the prosecution’s case.
Following the day’s proceedings, the court adjourned the trial to Wednesday, January 28, 2026, when the prosecution is expected to present its final witness, described as forensic experts from South Africa.
That session will formally usher the case into its open-hearing phase, accessible to both the public and accredited media.
The move ends a period of secrecy imposed by the court starting from the 38th session on January 15, 2026, after judges granted a prosecution request to conduct hearings in camera.
At the time, the prosecution argued that closed sessions were necessary to ensure the protection of witnesses, a justification that drew criticism from observers and sections of the defense.
With the conclusion of witness testimony under closed conditions, the judges ruled that there is no longer a basis to continue excluding the public and media, effectively restoring open judicial proceedings in one of South Sudan’s most politically sensitive cases.
The trial, which stems from the Nasir incident, has attracted intense national and international attention due to its implications for the peace process and political stability in the country.
The decision to reopen the hearings is likely to renew public scrutiny of the prosecution’s evidence and the broader conduct of the case as it approaches its final stages.
