The special court trying suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-accused on Monday rejected a defense application to broadcast the proceedings live on the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC).

Defense lawyer Kur Lual Kur had requested a one-week adjournment to prepare the accused for questioning by the judges and also asked that the trial be televised live.

During the 72nd session at Freedom Hall in Juba, Judge Stephen Simon Isaac ruled that the court would not revisit its earlier decision prohibiting live broadcasts.

“The court does not want to repeat itself in this regard. The court prohibited live broadcast of the session and it cannot overrule its previous decision,” Isaac said.

The court also dismissed the defense’s request to adjourn the proceedings until May 1, 2026, to allow more preparation time.

“The defense’s application to adjourn the session to May 1st to prepare the accused persons and broadcast the session live is hereby dismissed,” Isaac ruled.

Presiding Judge James Alala Deng then adjourned the trial until Monday, May 4, 2026, when the questioning of the accused is expected to begin.

Machar, 73, who is currently under house arrest, faces multiple charges including murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, and crimes against humanity.

His co-accused remain in detention under the National Security Service.

Prosecutors allege that forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO), allied with the White Army militia, killed 257 South Sudan People’s Defence Forces soldiers, including commander David Majur Dak, and destroyed or seized military equipment worth about $58 million during an attack on a garrison in Nasir in March 2025.

The seven co-accused are: Puot Kang Chuol (40), Mam Pal Dhuor (37), Gatwech Lam Puoch (66), Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam (53), Camilo Gatmai Kel (47), Mading Yak Riek (45), and Dominic Gatgok Riek (27).