South Sudanese security forces have prevented independent media outlets from covering the trial of suspended First Vice President Riek Machar and seven senior SPLM-IO officials that got underway in Juba.

Only the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) was allowed inside the courtroom to report on the proceedings.

Several journalists said they arrived early, followed the usual procedures, but were still denied entry. One freelance journalist, Denis Logonyi, said authorities told them they needed a document from the Ministry of Information—a requirement they weren’t informed about beforehand.

Another reporter, Ejulu Denis, expressed regret at the restriction, saying the trial was expected to be fair and transparent, and that blocking journalists undermined that.

The head of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan, Oyet Patrick Charles, condemned the decision as a direct assault on press freedom. He noted that earlier, officials had said all accredited journalists would be allowed access, and that reversing that promise is unacceptable.

Edmund Yakani, director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, said limiting media access hurts confidence in the judiciary’s transparency and independence.

The accused—including Machar—are charged with a variety of serious offenses: murder, treason, conspiracy, financing terrorism, acts against state authority, and crimes against humanity.