For the second consecutive day, Presiding Judge Dr James Alala Deng reiterated that the trial of suspended First Vice President Dr Riek Machar and his co-accused is publicly accessible.
However, independent journalists remain barred from attending.
“We would like to inform the audience that the court is open for public, as stated yesterday,” Judge Deng emphasised. “According to our laws, public hearings allow citizens access to the court.”
He asserted, “All media houses are permitted to report. No media outlet or interested citizen should be blocked.” Despite these statements, only the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) has been granted entry.
The SSBC has encountered technical issues, including signal disruptions and failures in its YouTube livestream, raising concerns about public access to the trial.
On the trial’s first day, reporters were instructed by security to obtain clearance from the Ministry of Information, an unexpected requirement.
The court faces backlash from media organisations and civil society, with the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) condemning the restrictions as violations of press freedom.
The judge adjourned the session to Wednesday while discussions continue regarding the court’s jurisdiction. The defence argues the court is unconstitutional based on the 2018 peace agreement, which mandates a hybrid court for such cases, while the prosecution asserts the court’s competence in Dr Machar’s case.
Machar and his co-accused face serious charges, including murder and treason related to the March 2025 Nasir conflict, which resulted in significant casualties.
This situation highlights the discrepancy between the legal right to public access and the current media restrictions.
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