Heightened Security Around Machar Trial
Armoured vehicles ring Juba’s High Court as suspended First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar and senior opposition figures face a politically charged trial drawing regional and global attention.
Public rallies outside the courthouse blend chants, drums and banners, while police cordons attempt to balance free expression with courtroom order.
CEPO Warns Against Intimidation in Court
In a statement, Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation called on authorities to guarantee safety for judges, prosecutors, defence lawyers and witnesses on all sides.
“No judge, no lawyer, no witness should be threatened,” CEPO Executive Director Edmund Yakani said, urging rapid measures to stop any courtroom pressure that could distort justice.
Why Protection Matters for Judicial Trust
Legal observers note that South Sudan’s young judiciary remains under scrutiny; equal protection is therefore central to public confidence and to the peace agreement’s implementation timeline.
Analysts warn that perceived bias or intimidation could spill into streets already polarized by years of conflict, undermining hard-won security gains.
Citizens Urged to Respect Court Access
Yakani encouraged protesters, media and civil society to demonstrate responsibility when attending hearings, arguing that orderly engagement strengthens the right to observe justice firsthand.
CEPO said it will keep monitoring proceedings and publish regular updates, framing transparency as the surest path to verdicts broadly accepted at home and abroad.