This comes after Yolanda Awel Deng Juach, the SPLM-IO representative at the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, expressed concern that the ongoing trial of Machar violates the 2018 peace agreement.
“There is huge concern, Mr Chair, about the current court proceeding that goes contrary to the letter and spirit of the R-ACRSS,” Awel said during the 4th RJMEC extraordinary meeting in Juba on Tuesday.
In response, Justice Minister Akech stated that judicial processes are not subjected to public debate.
“In the context of South Sudan, we know it all over that judicial processes are not subject to debate. And in fact, the court calls this contempt if you go against it,” Akech said.
Akech advised representatives of the parties at RJMEC to refrain from commenting on ongoing judicial proceedings.
“I urge that if you are going to comment, for example, on the implementation of the peace process, that this particular judicial proceeding is not up for discussion because the matter is in court.”
He stated that the government would lack legitimacy without the 2018 peace agreement.
“And especially a comment coming from friends, because this takes away the impressions of our people that if there is no peace agreement, there is no legitimacy,” he said.
“Legitimacy, as we know it, is not about a contract that is signed. And such comments take us away from the substantive discussion we ought to have here, which is to say, how do we support the implementation process, such as the issues of elections, the constitution making, and chapter five?”
Machar and seven co-defendants are facing alleged charges of murder, treason, and crimes against humanity at a special court with a panel of three judges.
The charges stem from an attack in March 2025 by a militia allegedly linked to Machar, which killed Maj. Gen. David Majur Dake, alongside 250 soldiers and the UNMISS helicopter crew member.
