JUBA—The Special Court hearing the case against former First Vice President Riek Machar and seven co-accused on Monday adjourned proceedings until October 23 over a reported shortage of fuel in the generator.
In its 122nd session, the special court was scheduled to rule on an application by Machar, the fifth accused, seeking permission to play video footage in court. The videos reportedly show former vice president Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel and Gen. Chol Thon Bolek, former defence minister, attending the burial of the late Gen. David Majur Dak.
Machar has accused the officials of instigating the Nasir incident in retaliation against him and other members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO).
Judge Stephen Simon Binjigwa, one of the three judges presiding over the case, said the hearing had to be postponed after the court was 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 fifth accused, but due to the fact that there is no fuel in the generator, as we have been informed, 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,” Simon announced.
The trial in Juba concerns allegations linked to the March 2025 violence in Nasir, Upper Nile State, when White Army fighters overran the military barracks and reportedly killed more than 200 government soldiers, including Maj. Gen. David Majur Dak.
Machar and his seven co-accused have denied the allegations against them.
The trial, which has drawn significant national attention because of the high-profile nature of the accused, is being presided over by Judge James Alala Deng, alongside Justices Stephen Simon Binjigwa and Isaac Pur Majok.
The court is expected to resume proceedings on Friday, October 23, to deliver its ruling on Machar’s application.