By Yiep Joseph
The Special Court trying Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-accused has adjourned trials to Monday, 27, 2025.
This was reached after commencement of cross-examination by the defense team.
During the 14th session on Friday, the defense team posed questions to the lead investigator.
Some of the questions aimed at checking the strength of evidence presented by the lead investigator against the accused persons.
With several questions from the defense answered, some of them were objected to by the prosecution team.
Technical questions from the defense to the lead investigator include what triggered the prompt arrest of the accused No. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6.
After the legal argument between the defense and investigation became interesting, the Presiding Judge, Dr. James Alala Deng, pronounced the adjournment of the trials to Monday.
In September, 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 people accused, including Dr. Riek Machar and several others from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army–In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), are said to have worked with the White Army to attack the Nasir barracks from March 3 to 7, 2025.
The incident resulted in the deaths of Maj. Gen. David Majur Dak, over 250 SSPDF soldiers, and a United Nations pilot.