The two South Sudanese pastors acquitted of espionage and other charges in Khartoum earlier this year are at risk of being put back on trial, their attorney said.

Lawyer Ahmed Al Sibeir told Radio Tamazuj that the Court of Appeal decided to restart the trial of the pastors Yat Michael and Peter Yein, who both reportedly returned to South Sudan following their release after eight months in jail, after hearing new evidence from the National Security Intelligence Service.

Yat had been arrested in December 2014 after preaching in a church in Khartoum North. Peter was aressted in January this year after delivering a letter to the Ministry of Guidance and Religious Endowment inquiring about his colleague's whereabouts.

Photo: Rev. Yat Michael