South Sudan’s justice minister on Tuesday warned the public and the international community against commenting on the ongoing trial of suspended First Vice President Riek Machar, saying public discussion could be considered contempt of court.
The warning comes as other parties to the country’s fragile peace agreement called for the trial to be halted and for dialogue to resolve the political crisis.
Machar, a key figure in a 2018 peace deal that ended a civil war, was suspended and placed under house arrest in March. He and seven others face charges including murder, treason and crimes against humanity in a special court established in Juba.
The charges are linked to a March attack on a military base in Nasir, Upper Nile state, that the government says killed more than 250 soldiers and was carried out by a militia under Machar’s direction.
Justice Minister Joseph Geng issued the caution during an extraordinary meeting of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), the body overseeing the peace agreement.
“Matters in court are not discussed outside,” Geng said. “The court called this contempt if you go against it.”
He urged those commenting on the peace process to avoid discussing the judicial proceedings. “This particular judicial proceeding is not up for discussion because the matter is in court,” he emphasized.
His remarks were a direct response to public calls from other peace partners for the release of Machar and his co-accused, who are members of his Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO).
Luka Piong, a representative of the Former Detainees group, expressed disappointment that the signatory parties have failed to engage in dialogue. He called on all parties, including the government under President Salva Kiir, to cease hostilities across the country and halt the trial.
Luka also emphasized the need to establish a long-planned hybrid court to handle human rights cases, arguing it is the only competent body for such violations.
“I’m also urging all the international community to look into the issue of the hybrid court because formation of the hybrid court has stalled and that’s the only court that brings peaceful process,” he said.
Yolanda Awel Deng, a former health minister representing the SPLM-IO at the meeting, said peace can only be achieved through dialogue between Kiir and Machar. She called for the unconditional release of the detained SPLM-IO leaders.
“There is huge concern with the current court hearing that goes contrary to the letter and spirit of the agreement,” Awel said.
Juma Mabor, a civil society representative in the peace monitoring body, said he was disappointed by the deteriorating political and security situation. He warned that continued violations threaten to undo South Sudan’s fragile peace.
The trial has stalled the implementation of the 2018 agreement, which is intended to guide the country to democratic elections by December 2026. Machar’s arrest is widely seen by observers as part of a long-running power struggle with Kiir.