Court Adjourns Machar Trial After Generator Runs Out of Fuel

By Awan Achiek

The Special Court hearing the case against former First Vice President Riek Machar and seven co-accused on Monday adjourned proceedings until Friday, October 23, 2026, after its generator ran out of fuel.

The court was scheduled to deliver a ruling during its 122nd session on an application filed by Machar, the fifth accused, seeking permission to play video footage in court.

The adjournment came after Machar requested permission to play video footage of senior SPLM government officials making public statements during and after his arrest, including remarks made at the state burial of the late Gen. David Majur Dak in Juba.

Machar wants the footage played in court to support his claim that the trial is politically motivated.

Judge Stephen Simon Binjigwa, a member of the three-judge panel, announced the adjournment after being informed that there was no fuel to operate the generator, preventing the session from proceeding as planned.

“Today’s session was fixed for the court to pass a ruling on the application of the 5th accused, but due to the fact that there is no fuel in the generator, we have been informed,” Simon said.

“We are going to adjourn this session to the coming Friday, 23 October 2026, for the court to rule on the application of the accused person.”

The court is expected to resume proceedings on Friday, October 23, 2026, to deliver its ruling on the pending application.

Machar, 74, and the seven co-defendants are charged with murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, destruction of public property, and crimes against humanity.

Machar is under house arrest, while the other defendants are being held at National Security Service facilities in Juba.

The co-defendants are Puot Kang Chol, Mam Pal Dhuor, Gatwech Lam Puoch, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, Camilo Gatmai Kel, Mading Yak Riek, and Dominic Gatgok Riek.

Prosecutors allege that SPLA-IO forces allied with the White Army killed 257 South Sudan People’s Defence Forces soldiers, including commander Gen. David Majur Dak, and destroyed or captured military equipment worth about $58 million during an attack on the Nasir military garrison in March 2025.