Riek Machar and the co-accused
Monday, 9 February 2026 | Author – Alex Onyango | Nairobi-Kenya | File Photo | GT-News | South Sudan|
A South African Forensic Expert, Ratlhogo Peter Calvin Rafadi, hired to gather evidence, was unable to extract data from Riek Machar’s phone and laptop for presentation before the high-level specialized court trying the high-profile charges against Machar and seven other co-accused in Juba on Monday, February 9, 2026.
Peter Calvin told the 49th session of the specialised court that he failed to extract evidence from Machar’s phone and laptop because they were secured with passwords, emphasising that he had no access to Machar’s devices and therefore could not retrieve records linked to the alleged planning and coordination of the military garrison attack in the town of Nasir in March 2025.
Ajo Ony’Ohisa Igele, the lead prosecutor, questioned the forensic expert why he had failed to access Machar’s gadgets and those of the other accused, but he said the MacBook laptop was highly secured with a password hard to crack.
Justice James Alala Deng, the presiding judge, adjourned the hearing to Wednesday, 11 February, for further hearing and cross-examination of the materials presented.
Machar and seven others face charges of treason against the state, crimes against humanity, murder, conspiracy, terrorism, destruction of public property, and military assets.
President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar don’t see eye to eye even as they work together, analysts said, and their feud has grown over the years as Machar waits his turn to become president while Kiir persists in the office.
