South Sudan’s political crisis has deepened after the government announced treason, murder, and crimes against humanity charges against Vice-President Riek Machar. Justice Minister Joseph Geng Akech said Machar, alongside 20 co-accused, faces a string of charges including conspiracy, terrorism, and violations of international humanitarian law following a deadly assault in Nasir County.
The case stems from a March 3–7 attack when the White Army, a militia linked to Machar’s Nuer ethnic group, stormed a military base in Upper Nile State. More than 250 soldiers, including senior officers, were killed, while a UN helicopter sent for rescue was fired upon, killing the pilot. Officials accuse the group of desecrating corpses, attacking civilians, and targeting aid workers.
Justice Minister Akech stressed that atrocities of this scale would not go unpunished, no matter the political status of those involved. Hours later, President Salva Kiir dismissed Machar from his position as vice-president and removed Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Choi, who was also implicated. Security forces moved quickly in Juba, tightening control as the announcement went live on state television.
The indictment underscores the collapse of the fragile power-sharing deal that had been holding South Sudan together since 2018. That pact, forged after years of civil war between Kiir and Machar, was already under strain. Now, with Machar under house arrest and many allies detained, the peace arrangement looks increasingly unstable.
International bodies have raised alarm. The UN Mission in South Sudan described the situation as a dangerous reversal that could erase years of painstaking progress. The U.S. and other partners are also watching closely, especially as elections originally slated for December 2024 have been pushed back by two years—fueling fears of fresh conflict.
For many South Sudanese, the developments revive painful memories of the civil war that claimed over 400,000 lives. Analysts warn that unless urgent steps are taken, the country could once again slide into violence, threatening both regional stability and the future of the world’s youngest nation.
