A legal standoff unfolded in court this morning during the high-profile trial of Dr. Riek Machar Teny and seven other senior members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), as the prosecution objected to the presence of two defense lawyers.
Dr Sabri Wani from the prosecution team claimed that Advocate Deng John Deng and Advocate Warnyang Kiir Warnyang were not licensed by the South Sudan Bar Association and therefore could not legally represent the accused.
“This is a clear violation of the Advocate Act, Section 26, Sub-section 1, which states that an advocate shall renew their license at the end of January every year. Failure to renew their license means the license shall be deemed to have been suspended until it is renewed,” Dr Sabri Wani, said
In a swift response, the defense team submitted a written statement countering the objection. Advocate Kur Lual Kur, representing the defense, alleged that the Bar Association had deliberately refused to renew the two lawyers’ licenses due to political interference.
“This special criminal court enjoys exceptional procedures, and its judges have absolute authority to accredit the lawyers chosen by the accused. This is confirmed by the provisions of Article 182 of the Criminal Procedure Code of 2008. Any objection to the appearance of authorized lawyers represents a violation of the constitutional right to defense,” said Adv. Kur.
“These lawyers pushed for their license renewals but were politically blocked,” Kur said. “They are pursuing legal channels to resolve the matter, and this should not prevent them from defending their clients in court.”
Kur further questioned the independence of the Bar Association, suggesting its decisions were influenced by political motives rather than legal standards.
The trial has captured public attention across the country. Crowds began gathering at the court as early as 5:00 AM, hoping to witness the proceedings. Dr. Machar and the co-accused arrived at 8:30 AM, with the session officially beginning at 9:00 AM.
In a significant development, media outlets were granted access to report from inside the courtroom for the first time a move widely seen as a step toward transparency and fair coverage.
Presiding Justice James Alala Deng adjourned the session to Monday, September 29, citing concerns from the public about the disruption of business activities caused by frequent court sittings. He also addressed concerns regarding security protocols and road closures during the trial:
“There is no legal basis for blocking roads. The public must be allowed to move freely during court proceedings,” said Justice Alala.
The trial continues to generate national interest, with many awaiting the next hearing to see how the legal dispute over the defense team will be resolved.
