Dr. Machar Trial: Court fears ‘trial by media,’ rejects defense broadcast bid

A special court in South Sudan on Monday dismissed a defense application seeking live broadcast of proceedings in the ongoing trial of suspended First Vice President Riek Machar, reaffirming its earlier position that hearings will continue without real-time media coverage. The ruling came after defense lawyer Kur Lual Kur petitioned the court last week to […]
US, EU and allies warn against excluding Machar’s group in peace amendments

The United States, European Union, and allied diplomatic partners have raised concerns over recent developments surrounding proposed amendments to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). The group warned against any process that excludes key political actors, particularly the SPLM-IO faction led by Riek Machar. The statement comes shortly […]
Dr. Machar trial: Court to rule on defense bid for televised proceedings

A legal dispute over public access to courtroom proceedings is set to be decided by the court as hearings in the ongoing trial involving First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon and co-accused continue in Juba. The court is expected to rule on an application filed by the defence team seeking permission for future sessions […]
Witness admits no direct evidence linking Dr. Machar to attack

The 67th court session on the Nasir case took a significant turn on Monday after the prosecution’s final witness conceded there was no direct forensic evidence connecting Dr. Riek Machar to the alleged March 2025 attack on SSPDF forces. The session, held at Freedom Hall, focused heavily on the continued cross-examination of South African digital […]
Judge’s illness stalls high-profile Dr. Machar case

The trial of suspended First Vice President Riek Machar and seven co-accused members of the SPLM/A-IO has been postponed to Monday, 30 March 2026. During a brief court session in Juba on Wednesday morning, presiding judge Stephen Simon Binjigwa said the adjournment was due to the illness of Isaac Pur Majok, one of the three […]
Kiir administration rejects church pressure to release Dr. Machar

President Salva Kiir’s regime has pushed back against calls by the South Sudan Council of Churches to release First Vice President Riek Machar, insisting that the judicial process must proceed without interference. In a statement issued on March 17, the government said while it shares concerns raised by the church over the country’s deteriorating political, […]
Women leaders urge Kiir to free Machar, restart inclusive political dialogue

Women leaders in South Sudan have called on President Salva Kiir to facilitate the release of First Vice President Riek Machar Teny and other political detainees as part of efforts to restart an inclusive political dialogue aimed at advancing the country’s fragile peace process. The appeal was made during a gathering of women leaders and […]
Court rejects defense bid to access phones in Dr. Machar Nasir trial

The special court on Wednesday denied the defense request to open the phones of seven co-accused of suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar in the ongoing Nasir incident trial. Presiding Judge James Alala Deng said the defense could only review hash values, digital codes used to confirm data integrity, provided by the prosecution’s forensic […]
Judges allow controversial digital forensic report into evidence

Judges sitting on the Special Court for the Incident of Nasir have admitted a disputed digital forensic report into evidence, rejecting objections raised by lawyers representing suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and other leaders of the SPLM/A (IO). The ruling was delivered during the court’s 56th session held on Monday at Freedom Hall, […]
Special court delays Dr. Machar trial over evidence dispute

The Special Court hearing the case against suspended First Vice President Riek Machar and seven co-accused members of the SPLM-IO has adjourned proceedings to February 25 following a dispute over the admissibility of prosecution evidence. Chief Judge James Alala said the tribunal required additional time to review objections raised by the defence, which challenged a […]