South Sudan’s first vice president, Riek Machar, has been formally charged with murder, treason, and crimes against humanity. The charges were announced by Justice Minister Joseph Geng Akech, who stated they are linked to March attacks in Nasir, northeastern South Sudan, where government officials allege that more than 250 soldiers were killed by the White Army, a militia of armed youths said to be acting under Machar’s orders.
Alongside Machar, seven others, including the former petroleum minister, face charges related to what authorities describe as a rebellion plot. The justice minister noted that the alleged crimes involved serious violations of the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law, citing desecration of bodies, persecution of civilians, and assaults on humanitarian workers.
Salva kiir and Riek Machar power sharing agreemet (Al Jeezara, 2025)
Machar’s political rivalry with President Salva Kiir has been central to South Sudan’s instability. The country, which gained independence in 2011, descended into civil war in 2013 after Kiir dismissed Machar over coup allegations. That conflict claimed an estimated 400,000 lives and displaced about four million people before a 2018 peace agreement created a power-sharing government.
Tensions have resurfaced in recent months. Since late February, fighting in Upper Nile state has prompted Kiir’s government to detain several officials from Machar’s faction, including the petroleum minister and a senior military leader, raising questions about the durability of the unity governmen
Reference
Al Jazeera. (2025, 11 September). South Sudan charges VP Machar with treason, murder over military attack. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/11/south-sudan-charges-vp-machar-with-treason-murder-over-military-attack