South Sudan Youth Reforms (SSYR)

SSYR Statement on the Reinstatement of Defense Lawyers in Machar Trial

📆 October 2, 2025 | Juba

For Immediate Release

The South Sudan Youth Reforms (SSYR) takes note of the decision by Chief Justice Dr. Benjamin Baak Deng to reinstate two defense lawyers, Deng John Deng and Warnyang Kiir Warnyang, in the ongoing trial of suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven others.

A Trial Already Tainted

The removal of the two lawyers earlier this week exposed the extent to which technicalities are weaponized by the prosecution to weaken the defense. The Chief Justice’s intervention, though corrective, highlights how even the judiciary is being dragged into political gamesmanship.

Larger Concerns of Justice Denied

• Unlawful arrests and torture: Several accused testified to being kidnapped, tortured, and denied basic rights.
• Political motivations: Charges are less about facts and more about silencing opposition voices.
• Restricted transparency: Closed-door hearings and selective practices show the regime’s fear of scrutiny.

SSYR’s Position

SSYR reiterates that true justice cannot exist in a system where defense lawyers require “special permission” just to participate. This trial is part of a larger project of repression orchestrated by the Juba regime and its allies, including the Jieng Council of Elders. The people of South Sudan, particularly in Upper Nile, continue to suffer from the regime’s deliberate use of courts, army, and foreign allies to destroy lives and communities.

We call on AU, IGAD, and the UN to monitor this trial and demand accountability for the unlawful arrests, torture, and political manipulation being carried out in its name.

#SSYR #JusticeForSouthSudan #RejectShamTrial