A political activist on Monday expressed concern over what they described as a deliberate attempt to silence independent media during the highly anticipated treason trial of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven senior SPLM-IO officials.
The trial, which began this morning at Freedom Hall in Juba, marks the first public hearing since the Ministry of Justice announced earlier this month that Dr. Machar and his allies would face treason and related charges.
According to prosecutors, the accused are being held responsible for orchestrating an armed attack on a South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) base in Nasir, Upper Nile State, in March 2025.
The raid left at least 28 soldiers dead, including SSPDF General David Majur Dak.
Justice Minister Joseph Geng announced on September 10th that the government was ready to proceed with the case, emphasizing that “no one is above the law.”
Public interest in today’s hearing was high, but journalists were barred from entering the courtroom. The government instead permitted live coverage of the proceedings, though only the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) was allowed to broadcast.
The move sparked backlash from civil society and human rights defenders, who said monopolizing coverage undermines transparency and public trust.
In a statement, Bol Deng Bol, Executive Director of INTREPID South Sudan and Chairperson of the Jonglei Civil Society Network (JCSN), condemned the blackout and denounced the alleged assault of a civil society activist outside the courtroom.
“We, first of all, appreciate the Government for allowing live streaming of the court proceedings for transparency and public knowledge. However, it appeared that only the state broadcaster, SSBC, was allowed to cover the hearing. This is contrary to the gesture of transparency and public interest,” Bol said.
He further called for full access to accredited private and international media outlets.
“We condemn the deliberate sidelining of independent media and the assault of the civil society activist. We appeal for uncensored coverage of subsequent sessions by private and international media, including radio stations, and for the undeterred participation of the public and civil society actors,” he added.
At Freedom Hall, Machar appeared calm but defiant, flanked by his co-accused SPLM-IO leaders.
While defense lawyers requested more time to prepare their case, prosecutors argued that the evidence was “clear and overwhelming.”
The presiding judge adjourned the trial after opening arguments, setting the next hearing for Tuesday.
Before closing, however, the judge announced that all accredited media outlets would be granted access to cover tomorrow’s session.