By Yiep Joseph
The special court trying the suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-accused has requested the prosecution team to prepare and submit a list of witnesses.
The court made the request on Monday during the 22nd session, which was fixed for witnesses.
This came after the prosecution team urged the special court judges to respond to their previous application demanding witness protection.
During Monday’s 22nd session, Judge Stephen Simon stated that the session was fixed for the witnesses.
He reiterated that the special court has permitted the prosecution to get an interpreter and gave the floor to the defense to respond.
Defense lawyer Geri Raimondu Legge acknowledged the prosecution’s demand for an interpreter.
As legal debate continued, Judge Simon urged the prosecution to categorize witnesses by language ability.
Prosecutor Sabri Wani Lado said the team plans to call 16 witnesses, adding that one requires language assistance.
Sabri further said eight witnesses need protection, while the remaining eight are able to testify openly.
Ajo Ony’Ohisa Igele, a member of the prosecution team, stated that the witnesses were ready and urged the court to respond to the application on the protection of witnesses and appointment of an interpreter.
He asked the court for more time to prepare a detailed list outlining which witnesses can testify with or without protection or interpretation.
He said the prosecution would provide an interpreter for the proceedings.
On his part, Presiding Judge Dr. James Alala Deng also directed prosecutors to indicate which witnesses require protection measures and which can testify without them.
The session was adjourned to Friday 21 November where prosecution was urged to prepared the list of the witnesses.
Machar and the others face charges including treason, crimes against humanity, mass murder, terrorism, and destruction of property.
The charges stem from a March 2025 attack on an army base in Nasir that left Maj. Gen. Majur and dozens of soldiers dead.