South Sudan’s already fragile peace process faces its most serious test yet as First Vice President Riek Machar has been charged with treason, murder, and crimes against humanity.
The charges, announced by Justice Minister Joseph Geng Akech, stem from Machar’s alleged involvement in a March attack on a military base in Nasir, where over 250 government soldiers were killed. Authorities claim the assault was carried out by the White Army — a militia drawn largely from Machar’s Nuer ethnic group — under his direct influence. The Justice Ministry accuses the group of gross violations of international humanitarian law, including attacks on civilians and humanitarian personnel, and desecration of corpses.
The move to prosecute Machar, who has been under house arrest since March, is deepening political divisions with President Salva Kiir. Once wartime enemies, the two leaders formed a unity government under the 2018 peace deal, but mutual distrust has plagued its implementation. Machar’s spokesperson has called the charges a “political witch hunt,” arguing the justice system is being used to sideline opposition voices.
Twenty others, including senior officials from Machar’s camp, have also been indicted. International observers warn the case could destabilize the already volatile nation, potentially reigniting civil war. With millions displaced and 400,000 dead from past conflict, the latest developments threaten to undo years of hard-won progress — and plunge South Sudan back into crisis.