The special court trying suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-accused on Monday rejected a defense request to broadcast proceedings live on the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC).
Defense lawyer Kur Lual Kur had last week requested a one-week adjournment to prepare the accused for questioning by judges and asked that the trial be televised live.
During the 72nd session at Freedom Hall in Juba, Judge Stephen Simon Isaac said the court would not revisit its earlier decision barring live broadcasts.
“The court does not want to repeat itself in this regard. The court prohibited live broadcast of the session and it cannot overrule its previous decision,” Isaac said.
The court also dismissed the defense’s request to adjourn proceedings until May 1, 2026, to allow additional time for preparation.
“The defense’s application to adjourn the session to May 1st to prepare the accused persons and broadcast the session live is hereby dismissed,” Isaac said.
Presiding Judge James Alala Deng adjourned the trial until Monday, May 4, 2026, for the questioning of the accused.
Machar, 73, who is under house arrest, faces charges including murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason and crimes against humanity. His co-accused remain in detention under the National Security Service.
Prosecutors allege that forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO), allied with the White Army militia, killed 257 South Sudan People’s Defense Forces soldiers, including commander David Majur Dak, and destroyed or seized military equipment worth about $58 million in an attack on a garrison in Nasir in March 2025.
The seven co-accused are Puot Kang Chuol, 40; Mam Pal Dhuor, 37; Gatwech Lam Puoch, 66; Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, 53; Camilo Gatmai Kel, 47; Mading Yak Riek, 45; and Dominic Gatgok Riek, 27.
and then