The Special Court hearing the case against former First Vice President Riek Machar and seven co-accused has adjourned proceedings until Friday, October 23, 2026, after a shortage of generator fuel prevented it from delivering a scheduled ruling.
The court was scheduled to deliver its ruling during the 122nd session on an application filed by Machar, the fifth accused, seeking permission to play video footage in court.
This came after he refuted public statements made by former vice president Benjamin Bol Mel, former defense minister Gen. Chol Thon Bolek, and others during and after his arrest, including remarks made during the state burial of late Gen. David Majur Dak in Juba.
He requested the court to play the footage in support of claims alleging that his 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.
“Today’s session was fixed for the court to pass a ruling on the application of the 5th accused, but because there is no fuel in the generator, as we have been informed,” he said. “We are going to adjourn this session to 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, 23 October 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.
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