The first trials of 86 political detainees from Sudan’s Blue Nile state resumed yesterday. 

Accused of having ties to the Sudanese rebel group, SPLM-N, possessing arms and inciting action against the government, most of them have been held without trial since November 2011.

Originally a group of 130 detainees, some were released at various points in the period since their initial arrest while the remainder are represented by a defence team comprising twelve lawyers. 

While the case was expected to begin on the 20^th, court officials decided to postpone the hearing as number of crucial figures were absent.

Related: Defence lawyers to meet with Blue Nile detainees in Singa (27 March 2013)