South Sudan’s suspended First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, met Friday with a team of defense lawyers in the capital, Juba, ahead of a trial expected to begin soon.
It was the first time Machar met with his legal counsel since security forces placed him under house arrest on March 26 by surrounding his residence.
The meeting came a day after Justice Minister Joseph Geng Akech said Machar and seven others had been formally charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity.
The charges relate to a March attack on a military base in Nasir, Upper Nile state, which authorities say left more than 250 soldiers dead. They allege the assault was carried out by the White Army militia under Machar’s command.
Later that evening, President Salva Kiir suspended Machar from his post, along with Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chuol, pending the outcome of the trial.
Multiple government and opposition sources told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that Machar met a legal team that includes prominent independent lawyers Kur Lual Kur and Waryang Kiir Warnyang. Former Justice Minister Reuben Madol Arol, now in private practice, was blocked from joining the meeting after initially being part of the defense group.
The meeting, which lasted nearly two hours, marked the start of Machar’s legal defense preparations.
“This is the first meeting, but the composition of the defense team and who will lead it will be determined in the coming weeks,” a source familiar with the matter said. “Some of those lawyers who met him today are just volunteering, but the final list is yet to be concluded.”
An opposition official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the SPLM-IO’s legal and legislation committee—headed by Dr. Riang Yer Zuor, who currently chairs the Constitutional Review Commission—has also proposed more candidates for the defense team.
“What I can confirm is that Dr. Machar met today with some independent lawyers to study the case ahead of the trial,” the official added.
While Machar and seven others have been officially charged, the official said more than 70 members of Machar’s security detail remain in detention at the Tiger Division facility in Juba.
“Some of our members including the deputy governor and some ministers in Lakes State are still being detained, and their fate remains unclear,” the official said. “Those reported by the justice minister to be at large are 13 people—among them Oyet Nathaniel, Pal Mai, Yiey Dak, and Pouk Both Baluang.”
Another opposition figure confirmed that Machar was in “good health” during the visit.