By Matik Kueth
The special court has on Monday halted the high-stakes trial of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar after judges raised alarm over the prosecution’s disorganized witness structure, exposing deep cracks in the system meant to handle one of South Sudan’s most politically sensitive cases.
The adjournment, issued at the 22nd session at Freedom Hall, signaled growing concern within the three-judge panel that the prosecution is not prepared to proceed.
Judges said the trial could not move forward until prosecutors supply a complete and properly categorized list of witnesses, including those requiring protection, those able to testify openly, and those needing language interpretation.
Judge Stephen Simon noted that the prosecution appears unprepared for the linguistic realities of the case, warning that several witnesses speak neither Arabic nor English.
Presiding Judge James Alala Deng went further, revealing that the court has no interpreter able to bridge English, Arabic, and Nuer, a major problem since Machar and several co-accused communicate primarily in Nuer.
He said both legal teams must now jointly agree on an interpreter acceptable to the court.
Prosecutors told the bench they intend to call 16 witnesses: eight needing protection measures, eight able to testify publicly, and one requiring interpretation.
But the judges pressed for firmer details, questioning inconsistencies between previous hearings and Monday’s submissions.
Lead prosecutor Ajo Onyo Issa asked the court for additional time to reorganize and resubmit a detailed witness structure, including the security and language needs of each individual.
His colleague Sabri Wani Lado pledged that the prosecution would provide an interpreter for the sessions.
Defense lawyer Geri Raimondu Legge said Machar’s legal team had no objection to the prosecution arranging an interpreter, noting that the defendants all speak Nuer.
Machar and seven co-defendants, Puot Kang Chuol, Mam Pal Dhuor, Gatwech Lam Puoch, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, Camilo Gatmai Kel, Mading Yak Riek and Dominic Gatgok Riek, are charged with treason, terrorism, mass murder, crimes against humanity and destruction of property.
Earlier, prosecutors requested the court to conceal the identities of certain witnesses, a matter the panel has yet to rule on.
With unresolved gaps in witness protection, language interpretation, and procedural readiness, the court postponed further proceedings to Friday, November 21, giving prosecutors a final window to present the structured witness roadmap demanded by the bench.