South Sudan’s Supreme Court has ordered the trial of First Vice President Dr Riek Machar to proceed, despite mounting objections from his defence team.
On Monday, the country’s Chief Justice confirmed that the court would continue hearings against Dr Machar and seven other senior officials, including former petroleum minister Hon. Puot Kang Chol. Defence lawyers had challenged the court’s authority to prosecute such a high-ranking leader, but their arguments were dismissed.
The prosecution alleged that Dr Machar and his allies may have ordered the White Army youth militia to attack government forces in Nasir County, insisting the incidents were unrelated to the revitalised peace agreement.
The Chief Justice has scheduled the final hearing for Wednesday, when the court may decide whether to issue a verdict. Defence lawyers continue to argue that Dr Machar should enjoy immunity as vice president, but the court has ruled that immunity only applies to the president.
Tensions rose further when the Chief Justice ordered two of Dr Machar’s defence lawyers to leave the courtroom, claiming their licences had expired — a position raised earlier by government prosecutors. The defence team rejected this move, citing constitutional protections under the 2008 charter.
Uncertainty remains over the possible outcome, with reports suggesting Dr Machar and his co-accused could face either life imprisonment or the death penalty. Earlier this month, the Minister of Justice signalled that such sentences were under consideration.
Dr Machar returned to Juba in 2020 under the supervision of the international community, the African Union, and IGAD to form a unity government with President Salva Kiir’s faction as part of the peace accord.
Meanwhile, Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) has warned of “serious consequences” if the government proceeds with detaining their leader and other senior officials. Despite these warnings, government forces are reportedly consolidating control in Upper Nile and northern Jonglei states, raising fears of renewed instability.
