JUBA, South Sudan – Former First Vice President Riek Machar on Wednesday raised another security concern before the Special Court trying him and seven co-defendants, asking judges to consider an urgent complaint involving his defence team.
Machar brought up the matter during the court’s 128th session at Freedom Hall in Juba, saying the defence had an urgent complaint it wanted to present to the judges.
“We have a complaint that we want to bring to the court about the defense. Due to an urgent matter, we think this can be brought before you,” Machar told the court.
Presiding Judge Stephen Simon Binjigwa said the court was competent to hear urgent matters but advised Machar to present the complaint through his legal representatives.
Machar clarified that the complaint concerned a security matter, but its details were not disclosed during the proceedings.
The latest concern comes against the backdrop of earlier security complaints during the trial. In September, defence lawyer Geri Raimondo Legge reported alleged threats against the accused and their lawyers, prompting the court to order an investigation and additional protective measures.
The judges subsequently directed security personnel implicated in the allegations to stop attending court sessions and ordered protection for the accused and their lawyers while travelling between detention facilities and the courthouse.
Machar also raised allegations of a plot to assassinate him, his co-accused and members of the defence team, describing the trial environment as “toxic”. Presiding Judge James Alala Deng later said the court’s investigation had been completed and that individuals identified would be referred to the Attorney General and police for further action.
The court adjourned proceedings until November 18 to allow for the state funeral of veteran politician and military commander General Joseph Lagu Yanga, who is scheduled to be buried in Juba on Friday.
Machar and seven co-defendants face charges including murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, destruction of public property and crimes against humanity over the March 2025 attack on a military garrison in Nasir, Upper Nile State.
Prosecutors allege that the attack killed 257 South Sudan People’s Defence Forces soldiers, including their commander, Major General David Majur Dak, and resulted in the destruction or capture of military equipment worth about $58 million.
Machar and the other defendants have denied the charges. Machar remains under house arrest, while the other accused are held at National Security Service detention facilities in Juba.
