South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
Two lawyers from the defence team of suspended South Sudan’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar have been expelled from the courtroom due to expired licences.
Advocates Deng John Deng and Warnyang Kiir Warnyang were removed from the courtroom and directed to seek authorisation from the Supreme Court.
They will only be allowed to return to court once their licences are renewed under the Advocates Act, 2013.
Last week, Dr. Sukri Wani Ladu, a member of the prosecution team, argued in court that allowing unlicensed lawyers to represent cases is illegal and unjust.
According to the relevant law, lawyers are required to renew their licences by the end of January each year, and failure to do so results in automatic suspension until the licence is renewed.
James Alala Deng, the presiding judge, ruled on Monday that the two will only be permitted to participate once they have renewed their licences.
“One of the objections from the defence team is overruled, and advocates Deng John Deng and Warnyang Kiir Warnyang are ordered to leave the defence team and seek sanction from the president of the Supreme Court to return,” Deng said.
He denied Machar’s lawyers’ request to exclude private advocates from the prosecution team, explaining that the law permits them to remain.
“It is clear from sections 40 and 45 of the Ministry of Legal Affairs’ constitutional involvement organisation that the minister may engage advocates or members of legal expertise from outside the ministry whenever necessary,” he said.
The court is set to rule on objections from both parties on Wednesday, 1st October 2025, when sessions resume.
Machar and seven others face serious charges, including murder and terrorism, related to the March 2025 Nasir clashes that resulted in significant casualties.
