JUBA – The Special Court hearing the case against eight SPLM/A-IO officials, including suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, has adjourned Friday’s session to Wednesday, December 10, after one of the judges became ill.
The 28th session was set for the defense team to continue cross-examination of the first prosecution witness on evidence of the case.
However, presiding judge Dr. James Alala Deng announced shortly upon arrival that the session would not proceed because the panel was incomplete.
Alala said one of the judges Stephen Simon was ill and undergoing treatment.
“As you have seen, the panel is incomplete. One of the members is sick and undergoing treatment. So the session is adjourned to Wednesday, 10th December 2025,” the judge said.
The country’s suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven of his party members have been on trial since early October, charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity in a move that some fear could reignite the country’s civil war.
Former Justice Minister Joseph Geng Akech said the charges against Machar relate to an attack in March by a militia allegedly linked to the vice-president, which killed 250 soldiers and a general.
Machar’s spokesperson has condemned the move as a “political witch-hunt”.