By Yiep Joseph
The Special Court trying Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-accused has adjourned trials to Monday, 20 Oct 2025.
The eleventh session held on Friday was fixed for the presentation of the summary of the case, a lengthy presentation.
During the presentations, the lead investigator, Maj. Gen. Basilio Thomas Wani, presented the summary of the case; these included the charges against the accused as well as the recommendations from the investigation committee.
In his presentation, the investigator presented the summary, including the list of those to be tried in absentia.
The 13 accused to be tried in absentia include the former Minister of water resources and irrigation, Pal Mai Deng.
The session also covered tough questions from the investigator regarding the role played by each of the eight accused present at the court during the Nasir incident that resulted in the loss of many government soldiers.
The investigator stated that the accused persons were presented to the court for trial under sections 48, 50, 52, 61, 62, 64, 65, 66, 67, 70, 71, 72, 75, 76, 206, and 239 of the Panel Court Act 2008.
The investigator also quoted a section of the SPLA Act 2009, amended 2022.
After all the presentations the presiding judge extended the next trial to Monday, 20 Oct 2025.
The session therefore moved into the role played by each during the conflict.
The lead investigator presented the role of the first accused, Puot Kang Chol, in the Nasir incident.
He presented to the court that the first accused was involved in sending money in the form of dollars to fund and mobilize the White Army in Nasir.
The investigator outlined the investigation’s findings and explained the specific roles played by each of the eight accused in the Nasir incident.
After the presentation on the role played by the first accused, the next session will bring in the role played by the remaining accused.
Recently the Government of South Sudan filed six charges, including treason and murder, against its First Vice President and opposition leader, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, and seven others in connection with the March 2025 Nasir incident.
Dr. Joseph Geng Akec, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, announced in a press briefing in Juba that the government’s investigative committee has concluded its probe and filed charges against Dr. Machar and his allies.
The charges include murder, conspiracy and common intention, terrorism and financing terrorist acts, treason and acts against state authority, destruction of public property and military assets, and crimes against humanity.
The accused, including Dr. Riek Machar, Mr. Puot Kang Choi, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, Mr. Mam Pal Dhuor, Mr. Gatwich Lam Puoch, Brig. Gen. Camilo Gatmai Kel, Mr. Mading Riek Yak, and Mr. Dominic Gatrgok Riek of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army–In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), are alleged to have coordinated with the White Army in attacks on the Nasir barracks from 3 to 7 March 2025.
The incident resulted in the deaths of Maj. Gen. David Majur Dak, over 250 SSPDF soldiers, and a United Nations pilot.