The court hearing involving suspended First Vice President Dr Riek Machar and seven other accused officials has been adjourned until 12 August following a request by defence lawyers for additional time to prepare their submissions.

The adjournment came during the 106th court session after lawyers representing Machar and other defendants, including former Petroleum Minister Puot Kang, requested more time to respond to the prosecution’s submissions concerning Machar’s earlier application for court proceedings to be recorded on video and audio.

Machar has argued that video and audio recordings would strengthen the accuracy and preservation of evidence presented before the court while also contributing to greater transparency and integrity within South Sudan’s judicial system.

He further argued that recordings of the proceedings could, in the future, serve as important educational and research material for students and academic institutions studying South Sudan’s legal and judicial development.

The hearing is expected to resume on Wednesday, 12 August, when defence lawyers will present further arguments in support of the request to allow video and audio recording of the proceedings.

The application has attracted considerable attention both within South Sudan and across the region, with sections of the public expressing support for greater access to and documentation of the high-profile trial.

Machar, who served as First Vice President in the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity under President Salva Kiir, was placed under house arrest after the government accused forces associated with the SPLM-IO and allied armed youth groups of attacking South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) personnel in Nasir County, Upper Nile State.

The clashes reportedly resulted in the deaths of a large number of soldiers, including a senior SSPDF commander.

Machar has strongly denied ordering or authorising the attack, maintaining that he did not instruct SPLM-IO forces or armed youth groups to attack government troops in Nasir.

The South Sudanese government has charged Machar and seven senior SPLM-IO officials with offences including murder, treason and crimes against humanity.

Machar is listed as the fifth accused in the proceedings and is expected to be the last of the defendants to present testimony in his defence.