The Special Court in Juba has adjourned proceedings until August 5, when judges are expected to question fourth accused Gabriel Duop Lam before hearing the defence statement of the fifth accused, First Vice President Dr Riek Machar. In Monday’s 103rd court session, Gabriel Duop Lam completed his defence before the Special Court, denying allegations that he planned or coordinated the March 2025 violence in Nasir, Upper Nile State. Duop Lam told the court that the fighting was a confrontation between local youth and government forces, rather than a planned military operation by the SPLM/A-IO. Addressing the court, Duop Lam said he never received orders from the SPLM/A-IO commander-in-chief to attack the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF). Duop Lam further alleged that the prosecution was politically motivated and intended to undermine the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).