By Yiep Joseph
The South Sudan government has extended the lifespan of the special court trying Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-accused.
The court pronounced the extension on Wednesday during the 10th session following the recent expiration of the previously given time frame.
During the previous session, Dr. Geri Raimondo Legge, the defense lawyer for the accused, questioned the special court’s legality, citing that their term of office elapsed on the 8th of October 2025.
However, the prosecution team that time argued that time elapsed remains administrative and can be handled administratively.
Just at the beginning of the 10th session, the judge announced the extension of the time frame for the special court to handle the case.
The judge stated that the time frame of the court was extended until the completion of the trial.
According to the judge, the extension started on the 13th of October 2025.
Immediately after announcing the extension, the judge declared the trial to continue.
Not only that, but the judge at the 10th session revealed that the court sittings would be conducted thrice a week.
During Wednesday’s session the investigator/prosecution presented a series of prosecution exhibits, including mobile phones seized from the accused at the time of their arrest.
The defense team argued the seizure was unlawful, while the prosecution team said that all the arrests as well as the items seized were all within the law.
In total the investigator/prosecutors presented 16 exhibits.
The investigator also presented two rifles and a pistol allegedly belonging to Brig. Gen. Kamilo Gatmai Kel, who denied ownership.
In September President Salva Kiir suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, along with Petroleum Minister Puot Kang, pending court trials on charges of treason, murder, and crimes against humanity.
The government filed six charges against the two and six other opposition officials following an investigation into the March 2025 Nasir incident. The eight opposition figures are set to face court trials.
Dr. Joseph Geng Akec, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, in a press briefing announced the charges, which include murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, destruction of public property, and crimes against humanity.
The accused are alleged to have coordinated with the White Army in attacks on Nasir town between March 3 and 7, 2025. The incident resulted in the deaths of Maj. Gen. David Majur Dak, over 250 SSPDF soldiers, and a United Nations pilot.
The Minister of Justice added that 83 individuals were interrogated, with 21 indicted—eight detained and charged, 13 at large, and 76 released for lack of evidence.
The charges and his suspension have sparked debate across South Sudan’s media space. The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army–In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) has widely rejected and condemned the government’s charges and suspension.