South Sudan’s political landscape, First Vice President Riek Machar has been formally charged with murder, treason, and crimes against humanity. This announcement, made by Justice Minister Joseph Geng, pertains to Machar’s alleged role in attacks by an ethnic militia, the White Army, against federal forces in March of this year. Within hours of the charges, President Salva Kiir issued a decree suspending Machar from his high-profile position, a move that casts a long shadow over the fragile peace established following a devastating civil war.
The backdrop to these legal proceedings is a long-standing rivalry between Machar and Kiir, whose factions clashed in a civil war from 2013 to 2018, resulting in approximately 400,000 deaths and leaving countless others displaced. The charges and Machar’s suspension heighten an already volatile situation, stoking fears that South Sudan may be on the brink of renewed conflict. “Evidence further reveals that the White Army operated under the command and influence of certain leaders of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-in Opposition (SPLM/A-iO), including Dr. Riek Machar Teny,” Geng stated, shedding light on the government’s rationale behind the accusations.
Machar has been under house arrest since March as a consequence of the violence associated with the White Army’s alleged actions in the northeastern town of Nasir. His continued detention has drawn considerable international attention, with numerous global powers urging for his release on the grounds that his imprisonment could destabilise the country further. Human rights advocates and political analysts alike remain cautiously optimistic about Machar’s situation, with Edmund Yakani, executive director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, emphasising the need for a fair judicial process. He stated, “I hope the court trying Machar and the seven others will be fair and a competent court of law, not a kangaroo court of law.”
The political upheaval extends beyond just Machar, as Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol has also been suspended and faces charges alongside him. The government’s announcement included that 20 individuals in total have been indicted in connection with the incident, although 13 of these remain at large.
Despite the turmoil, Machar and Kiir had been participating in a unity government established under a peace deal aimed at mending the rifts in their politically fractured nation. However, intermittent violence since the ceasefire has raised persistent doubts about the durability of this fragile alliance.