The prosecution team has requested that the special court trying the suspended First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, and seven others grant witness protection and appoint an interpreter as it prepares to hear witness testimonies in the upcoming sessions.
During the 19th session on Monday, November 10, prosecution team member Adv. Ajo Ony'Ohisa Igele stated that the application is brought under Sections 181 and 203 of the Criminal Procedure Code Act, 2008, Article 9(3) of the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan, 2011 (as amended), and Article 24 of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, 2008.
The application seeks to ensure the privacy, safety, and security of witnesses who may face intimidation, threats or harm because of their testimonies.
The measures may include keeping their identities confidential, security escort, restricting public exposure, or holding closed-door sessions.
Lead defense counsel, Adv. Dr. Gerri Raimondo Legge, asked
the court to allow the defense to submit a written response in the next
session.
The 19th session marked the conclusion of the chief examination,
cross-examination, and re-examination of the investigator by both the
prosecution and defense teams.
The next session is scheduled for Wednesday, November 12, during which the judges will thoroughly question the investigator on the files, documents and statements. Subsequent sessions will hear the complainant and the witnesses testify.
Machar and seven of his allies face charges of murder,
conspiracy, terrorism, financing terrorist acts, treason, destruction of public
property and military assets, and crimes against humanity.
The charges stem from the March 2025 clashes in Nasir
between the White Army and the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF),
which the government alleges involved Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation
Movement/Army-in-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) and led to the deaths of a general and
257 soldiers.
