The special court on Monday adjourned the trial of suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-defendants as judges prepare to rule on a defence application seeking audio and video recording of Machar’s testimony.
The defence filed the application during the 105th session of the trial, arguing that recording the proceedings digitally was important given South Sudan’s uncertain political and security environment.
The prosecution presented its arguments against the application during Monday’s 106th session, held at Freedom Hall in the capital Juba.
Lead Prosecutor Ajo Ony’Ohissa also submitted a report to the defence during the session.
Defence lawyer Kur Lual Kur confirmed that the defence had received a copy of the document from the prosecution and would respond. The defense requested additional time to review the prosecution’s response before presenting its position.
“We have received a photocopy of the document from the prosecution and we will respond,” Kur told the court.
Judge Stephen Simon Binjigwa, a member of the three-judge panel, adjourned the proceedings until Wednesday, Aug. 12, when the court is expected to rule on the defence application on Machar’s testimony.
Machar, who is the fifth accused in the case, is standing trial alongside seven other defendants over violence in Nasir, Upper Nile State, in March 2025, in which government forces suffered heavy casualties.
The defendants face charges including murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, destruction of public property and crimes against humanity.
Prosecutors allege that forces aligned with Machar’s SPLA-IO and the White Army killed 257 South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) soldiers, including commander Gen. David Majur Dak, during an attack on a military garrison in Nasir in March 2025.
They also allege that military equipment worth about $58 million was destroyed or seized.
Machar and the other defendants have denied all the charges.
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