As South Sudan prepares for the high-stakes trial of suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-accused next week, attention is turning to the judiciary and its ability to manage one of the most politically sensitive cases in the country’s history.
Kur Lual Kur, the lead defense lawyer, told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that while his team is ready, critical questions remain—particularly regarding who will preside over the proceedings.
He said he believes South Sudan’s judges are capable of handling a high-profile case and expressed hope that the judiciary will uphold its responsibilities and ensure a fair trial when proceedings begin Monday, Sept. 22.
“We are confident in the qualifications of our judges,” Kur said. “They are capable of handling a case of this magnitude.”
Below are edited excerpts from the interview:
Q: Mr. Kur, can you give us an update on the health and readiness of the defendants for the trial next week?
A: Well, we met with the First Vice President three times. He is in good health and ready to appear in court.
We also met the other four defendants currently held at the Blue House, including the minister of petroleum. They are in good health and also prepared to stand trial.
Additionally, we visited two defendants at the Tiger detention facility; they, too, are in good health and ready for court.
However, there is one individual who remains a concern — Gabriel Duop Lam, who is the deputy chief of general staff. He is currently serving in the army, and we could not meet him. That is the full update regarding the Blue House case. Thank you.
Q: What are your legal strategies for the upcoming trial?
A: We cannot disclose our legal strategies in the media. These matters are strictly for the lawyers and the defense team.
Q: What can you tell us about the defense team itself?
A: We are fully prepared for the trial. Our work begins on Monday, as we await the court’s authority on the chief justice’s appointment. We will discuss our legal strategy further after knowing the court’s authority.
Q: How long do you expect the trial process to take?
A: The circumstances under which the court will proceed and the estimated trial period are not clear, because this concerns the court and we cannot interfere with it. But we work as a defense team with the court so that the process is fast-tracked, because justice delayed is justice denied.
We are doing our best as a defense team. The court does not typically delay cases unnecessarily, but if there is a delay, it may impact the delivery of justice.
Q: How many lawyers are on the defense team?
A: I cannot disclose the number of the defense team now, but it will be clear on Monday when the court trial begins.
Q: Who is leading the legal team during the trial?
A: I am the one leading the team, Kur Lual Kur.
Q: What is your response to the accusations against the defendants? How is your team addressing the charges?
A: At this point, it’s just an accusation. We do not even know what the specific charges are, nor what evidence is being used to support them. We are only aware of the accusation; the evidence will be presented in court, and after that, we will be in a position to decide what to do.
Q: Do you believe your team can secure a fair and just trial for your clients?
A: Yes. Both the defense team and the accused are approaching this trial with clean hands.
We are seeking justice and a fair trial. We have no alternative but to trust in the process. We are appearing before the court with integrity and hope for a just outcome.
Q: Given Dr. Machar’s role in the peace process, what impact do you think this trial could have on national reconciliation and political stability in South Sudan?
A: Of course, any decision issued by the court in the case of Dr. Riek Machar will have implications politically. But I am not a politician, so I don’t want to talk about the political side of it because I am a lawyer. As I said, naturally, this will also have political implications. However, I personally only deal with the legal matters in court. The political aspect will be handled by politicians. I focus solely on the legal side.
Q: Have you reviewed the evidence submitted by the Public Prosecutor?
A: No. We have only acknowledged the accusations brought against the defendants.
The evidence remains with the court. Once the accusation is formally submitted to the court, we will know what evidence is being relied upon.
Q: There are reports that your lawyers are still detained at the National Security detention centers. Have you submitted a request for them to be transferred to a more suitable location ahead of the trial?
A: No, we have not. Our legal defense will begin on the day of the hearing on Monday.
We have many reservations regarding the treatment of the accused. In our view, there is no better venue for this case than before the court. We will present our case there, and from that point forward, we will speak based on the law.
Q: So the defendants are currently being held at the National Security facilities?
A: Yes, that is correct. We have no additional comment on that at this point. If we have any comment on where the accused are being detained, we will say it before the court next week.
Q: The trial is scheduled to be held in a specific location. Do you think this is appropriate? Will it allow access for all involved parties, including families and the public?
A: The trial was supposed to be at Al-Mudiriya. However, the courtrooms in Al-Mudiriya are not large enough to accommodate the number of people involved in this case.
This is a major case, and there are many defendants. Some local courtrooms cannot accommodate more than five or six defendants at a time. Ultimately, the court has the authority to decide if the trial will be moved to another location. We do not have a say in that decision.
Q: Do you know the exact location where the trial will be held? There are reports it might take place in Freedom Hall.
A: We are hearing reports suggesting that the trial will be held in Freedom Hall. In fact, we have not received an official statement to that effect.
Still, I must say that even now, I personally do not know for certain where the trial will take place on Monday.
Q: As the legal representative in charge of this case, can you comment on whether the trial can be fair? Are you confident in the judicial process?
A: Yes, I am the legal representative in charge of this case. We have full respect for all judges in South Sudan. However, we do not yet know how many judges will preside over this case. That information will become clear on Monday.
I am confident that our judges are qualified to handle such a high-profile case. We know the qualifications of our judges in the judiciary, and we respect all our judges.
On the number of judges who will handle the case — once we receive confirmation from the court, we will have a clearer picture on Monday.
Q: What is your message to the public, to the families of the accused, and to the people ahead of Monday’s hearing?
A: The message is simple: the proceedings are progressing normally. Cases like this happen in many countries, even among our neighbors. It is not unusual for such trials to take place.
Everyone — especially the families of the accused — must be patient. In the end, justice will prevail. Thank you very much.