Lawyers representing suspended South Sudan First Vice-President Riek Machar have asked a special Court in Juba for permission to meet him at his residence to prepare his defense statement ahead of the next hearing.
Machar’s lawyer, Deng John Deng, told the Court on August 3 that the defense team needed access to their client, listed as the fifth accused, before he presents his statement. The presiding judge, James Alala Deng, directed the lawyers to complete the necessary application process.
The defense team also raised concerns that relatives of the accused had allegedly been prevented from attending recent court proceedings by National Security Service personnel. Judge Deng reaffirmed that the trial is open to the public and instructed authorities to allow anyone interested to attend the hearings.
The Court adjourned proceedings until 5 August 2026, when the defense case of Lt Gen Gabriel Duop Lam, one of Machar’s co-defendants, is expected to continue. Machar and seven others are facing charges including murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, destruction of public property and crimes against humanity linked to a 2025 attack on the Nasir military garrison. The accused have denied all charges.