First Vice President of South Sudan, Riek Machar, has been accused of murder, treason, and crimes against humanity, according to Justice Minister Ruben Madol.
- South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar faces significant accusations, including treason and crimes against humanity.
- These charges are linked to alleged involvement with the March attacks and have sparked tension within the country’s administration.
- The accusations intensify the ongoing political friction between President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar, challenging the 2018 peace agreement.
- International organizations express concern over the potential destabilization and urge for dialogue regarding Machar’s detention.
The accusations are related to his alleged involvement in the March attacks on federal soldiers by the White Army ethnic group.
President Salva Kiir dismissed Machar from his position in an order that was aired on state radio hours after the news, but no more information was provided.
In the northern town of Nasir, Machar, who has been under house arrest since March, was charged with organizing a revolt and working with militia troops.
International observers are concerned that his case will exacerbate tensions and possibly spark a new crisis in the nation, which is why formal charges have been delayed, prolonging his arrest.
Complications within the presidency in South Sudan
The accusations are the most recent development in a long-running power struggle between Kiir and Machar, the heads of different political factions whose antagonism stoked the bloody civil conflict in South Sudan from 2013 to 2018.
Millions of people were displaced, and an estimated 400,000 people died in the battle before a precarious peace agreement was achieved in 2018.
As part of the deal, Kiir and Machar established a unified government. However, their cooperation has been riddled with distrust, and periodic violence between their followers has continued.
The move to formally prosecute Machar is anticipated to exacerbate the division and undermine the administration even further.
Justice Minister Madol revealed that Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol, as well as former deputy army leader Gabriel Duop Lam, are facing allegations of murder, conspiracy, and damage to public property. President Kiir then suspended Kang Chol from his cabinet position.
In total, 21 persons have been indicted in the case. Eight are now in detention, while 13 are still at large.
International powers and regional mediators have repeatedly urged for Machar’s release, claiming that his arrest breaches the spirit of the 2018 peace agreement and risks plunging South Sudan back into civil conflict.
The United States, the African Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have all called for dialogue on detention, stressing that the country’s stability remained fragile.
South Sudan, which gained its independence in 2011, has faced political turmoil, economic collapse, and repeated cycles of conflict.
While its peace agreement put somewhat of a dent in years of fighting, trust between former adversaries remains elusive.
