Dr. Reik Machar on Trial (Courtesy:BBC)
Juba, March 2, 2026
Savanna Radio News
A special court in Juba has admitted a contested digital forensic report as evidence in the high-profile trial of suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-defendants, marking a key development in the case tied to the 2025 Nasir garrison attack.
The three-judge panel, led by Presiding Judge James Alala Deng, formally marked the report prepared by South African expert Ratlhogo Peter Calvin Rafadi as Prosecution Document Number 9-H after careful review. Judge Stephen Simon Isaac noted the court’s thorough consideration, stating its evidentiary value would be tested through cross-examination. The report analyzes electronic data and communications allegedly linking the accused to charges of murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, and crimes against humanity.
Defense lawyer Kur Lual Kur requested a seven-day adjournment to study the document before cross-examining the expert, but prosecutors opposed it, citing prior leniency and the expert’s extended stay costs. Lead prosecutor Ajo Onyo Ohisa Issa argued further delays were unjustified, as the court had already provided copies of the materials. The panel adjourned the trial to Friday, March 6, granting limited time for defense preparation.
Machar, 73, and co-defendants including Puot Kang Chuol, Gatwech Lam Puoch, and Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam face allegations over an SPLA-IO and White Army attack on the Nasir garrison in March 2025 that killed 257 government soldiers and caused $58 million in damages. Earlier defense challenges questioned the report’s authentication timeline and organization, leading to its re-submission. Machar remains under house arrest, while others are detained by National Security.
The prosecution fields 13 lawyers from the Ministry of Justice, led by figures like Counsel General Deng Achuil Adija, while the defense has six attorneys including Dr. Geri Raimondu Lege. Investigations involve senior military officers like Major General Basile Thomas Wani. With the evidence now admitted, focus shifts to the expert’s testimony, potentially shaping the trial’s outcome amid South Sudan’s fragile political landscape.
The ongoing trial of suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar carries profound risks for South Sudan’s fragile peace process and political stability. Prosecuting Machar undermines the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), which mandates power-sharing between President Salva Kiir’s SPLM and Machar’s SPLM-IO until elections. It has already led to renewed hostilities between government forces, SPLM-IO, and militias, unraveling ceasefire commitments and delaying security arrangements like army unification.
Analysts warn of “existentially high stakes,” with Machar’s Nuer supporters unlikely to tolerate a conviction, potentially sparking ethnic violence and insurgency. The UN, AU, IGAD, and US have urged his release, fearing nationwide conflict that could displace millions and impact the region. The case signals “weaponized justice,” eroding trust in institutions and discouraging opposition integration, while bypassing hybrid court provisions for serious crimes. A guilty verdict could collapse the unity government; acquittal might embolden rivals, prolonging instability amid humanitarian crises affecting two-thirds of the population.
Post comments (0)