By Matik Kueth
Proceedings in the high-profile case against Riek Machar and seven other accused have been temporarily halted after one of the presiding judges fell sick, pushing the trial to next week.
The unexpected adjournment was announced on Wednesday during the 62nd court session at Freedom Hall in Juba.
Judge Stephen Simon Binjigwa told the court that Justice Isaac Pur Majok could not attend due to sickness, making it impossible for the panel to proceed.
The session had been set to continue the cross-examination of a digital forensic expert, a key witness in the prosecution’s case.
Instead, the hearing has now been rescheduled to Monday, 30 March 2026, when the defense is expected to resume questioning.
Machar and the other seven co-accused face trial over serious charges ranging from murder and terrorism to treason and crimes against humanity
The case stems from a deadly incident in March 2025, when prosecutors say forces linked to the SPLA-IO and the White Army launched an attack on a military base in Nasir.
The attack allegedly left 257 South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) soldiers dead, including senior commander Gen. David Majur Dak, and resulted in the loss or destruction of military equipment valued at around $58 million.