Author: Obaj Okuj | Published: 10 hours ago
Presiding Judge James Alala (center) and his colleagues oversee the trial for Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-accused in the Nasir Incident case, Wednesday, October 1, 2025. (Photo: Eye Radio/Moses Awan)
JUBA, South Sudan (Eye Radio) — The special court trial of suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-accused reached a critical stage on Friday as the prosecution presented its final witness: a South African digital forensic expert.
The 45th session of the high-profile case centered on the technical findings of Ratlhogo Peter Calvin (also known as Rafadi), a 47-year-old Johannesburg-based investigator.
Mr. Calvin, who owns a private cybersecurity firm, was contracted by the Government of South Sudan in 2025 to analyze electronic devices seized during the investigation.
Mr. Calvin testified that he received a range of electronic devices—including MacBooks, laptops, and various mobile phones—on June 25, 2025.
He emphasized that the evidence arrived in Juba via a sealed diplomatic bag with official serial numbers to ensure no tampering had occurred.
The expert explained that his laboratory used industry-standard certified tools, such as Cellebrite and iMazing, to extract data. To maintain the integrity of the evidence, he performed “forensic imaging,” a process where only copies of the data are analyzed while the original devices remain untouched and preserved.
The court heard that investigators provided 40 specific keywords to guide the data search. These included terms such as: Nasir, Ulang, SPLM/A-IO, White Army, and SSPDF for military & groups, who for operation it included terms such as attack, mobilization, weapons, and logistics, and then terms such as funding and payments for finance.
Mr. Calvin noted that while private family photos and personal conversations were excluded to respect privacy, the forensic analysis flagged significant communications.
According to the findings presented, the extracted data indicated activities related to arms procurement, logistical coordination, intelligence sharing, and organized militia planning.
The witness confirmed that all devices were returned through official diplomatic channels after the individual reports were completed.
He arrived in Juba in late August 2025 to officially hand over the final documentation to South Sudanese authorities.
Following the prosecution’s initial examination, the court adjourned. The session is scheduled to resume on Monday, February 2, 2026, when Mr Calvin is expected to provide a live on-screen presentation of the specific digital findings to the court.
