South Sudan’s special court has postponed hearings involving suspended First Vice President Dr Riek Machar and seven co-accused until 23 September.

Judge Dr James Alala Deng ordered the adjournment after defence counsel raised security concerns for Machar and the defence team while seeking to address matters in their filed applications.

The defence said it had provided its application documents to the prosecution, which acknowledged receiving them and said it would respond at the next hearing. The court said the delay was linked to the security concerns and that it would address the applications.

Judge Stephen Simon said the session had been scheduled to consider applications filed by the parties. Four accused people, including former petroleum minister Puot Kang Chol and Gen Gabriel Duop Lam, were not present.

Machar and President Salva Kiir signed the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.