Proceedings in the trial of suspended First Vice President Riek Machar Teny and seven co-accused were temporarily adjourned on Monday after a generator failure caused a power outage at the courthouse, disrupting the hearing.
Court officials said the generator developed a technical fault that cut electricity supply to the courtroom, affecting microphones, lighting and recording equipment.
Presiding Judge James Alala Deng suspended the session and adjourned proceedings to Wednesday, May 20, 2026, to allow the court to continue hearing testimony from the first accused, Puot Kang Chol.
Kang, 41, faces charges including murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason and crimes against humanity.
Co-accused include Riek Machar, Mam Pal Dhuor, Gatwech Lam Puoch, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, Camilo Gatmai Kel, Mading Yak Riek and Dominic Gatgok Riek.
Machar is being held under house arrest, while the other defendants remain in detention under the National Security Service.
Prosecutors allege that forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO), alongside allied White Army militia, killed 257 South Sudan People’s Defence Forces soldiers, including commander David Majur Dak, and destroyed or seized military equipment worth about $58 million during an attack on a garrison in Nasir in March 2025.
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