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 […]
South Sudan civil society welcomes AUC5 plus outcome, demands action
South Sudan’s civil society has welcomed the outcome of the AU C5 Plus meeting, describing it as a decisive step toward restoring peace and advancing the country’s stalled transition, while urging leaders to move swiftly from commitments to concrete action. Speaking after the meeting, Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of CEPO, praised the leadership of regional […]
Defense, prosecution clash over forensic evidence as court issues rights ruling
The Special Court hearing the Nasir Incident case involving suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and SPLM/A (IO) members saw heated legal arguments over disputed digital forensic evidence, while the court also issued a decisive ruling upholding detainees’ constitutional rights. The court, sitting for its 52nd session at Freedom Hall, heard testimony from South […]
AU C5 orders ceasefire, demands release of Dr. Machar
The AU C5 has directed South Sudan’s leaders to immediately halt all hostilities and release detained political figures, including First Vice President Riek Machar, following deliberations at the C5 meeting of Heads of State. Delivering the closing remarks, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the regional leaders reached a firm and unified position after what […]
Judges halt proceedings over ‘disorganised’ forensic evidence
Proceedings in the trial of suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny and seven co-accused were abruptly halted on Friday after judges ruled that forensic documents submitted by a prosecution expert were disorganised and failed to correspond with the case file. The Special Court had convened for its 51st session, during which the defence […]
Court told to send Machar’s devices to China, Vietnam or India
A South African forensic specialist on Wednesday informed the court that encrypted devices seized from Dr. Riek Machar may require overseas intervention to extract evidence in the Nasir case. Appearing as the 13th and final prosecution witness during the court’s 50th session, forensic analyst Ratlhogo Peter Calvin said local investigators have been unable to access […]
