Juba, South Sudan — The High Court of South Sudan has once again adjourned the ongoing nine-day hearing of First Vice President Dr Riek Machar and seven of his allies. The proceedings, which have been repeatedly postponed since they began in September, are now set to resume on Wednesday, 15 October.
Dr Machar, leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), faces charges carrying the death penalty, along with seven other accused officials, in connection with the deadly incident in Nasir. Despite holding the position of First Vice President, the court has continued to deny Machar’s claims of immunity.
Throughout the hearings, Machar has rejected the charges and refused to recognise the legitimacy of the Ministry of Justice’s investigation committee, which he argues lacks the authority to investigate him or the Nasir incident. He has instead called for an inquiry led by joint monitoring bodies established by the African Union, IGAD, and the international community—organisations tasked with overseeing the implementation of South Sudan’s revitalised peace agreement.
Dr Machar maintains that, under the terms of that peace agreement, he is entitled to immunity as the First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan.
Critics, however, have described the charges as politically motivated, alleging that the court is influenced by government interests and lacks the independence required to assess the evidence fairly.
Meanwhile, human rights activists have condemned the court’s decision to block media coverage of the proceedings, calling for transparency and public access in such a high-profile case.
