By Yiep Josph
Proceedings in the special court trying suspended First Vice President Riek Machar and seven co-accused were disrupted on Monday after a power outage left the Freedom Hall courtroom in darkness.
During the 78th session, judges arrived at the venue but found no electricity, reportedly due to a lack of fuel for the generator.
Court officials and police personnel used mobile phone torchlights to provide limited illumination, allowing the session to proceed briefly.
Presiding Judge Dr. James Alala Deng, assisted by the dim lighting, called the court to order and recorded appearances. Deng Achuil Adija represented the prosecution, while the defense appeared through Dr. Geri Raimondo.
However, due to the continued absence of power, the court was unable to proceed with the scheduled hearing.
Judge Alala Deng adjourned the session and rescheduled proceedings to Wednesday, May 20, 2026, when testimony from the first accused, Puot Kang Chol, is expected to continue.
Puot Kang Chol, 41, faces multiple charges, including murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, and crimes against humanity.
The case also involves several co-accused, including senior military and political figures. Machar is currently under house arrest, while the remaining defendants are in detention under the National Security Service.
Prosecutors allege that forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO), alongside allied White Army militia, killed 257 South Sudan People’s Defence Forces soldiers and destroyed or seized military equipment worth approximately $58 million during an attack on a garrison in Nasir in March 2025.