South Sudan Suspended VP Riek Machar Faces Treason, Crimes Against Humanity Trial in Juba

The trial of South Sudan's suspended First Vice President Riek Machar began in Juba on charges including treason, murder, and crimes against humanity related to a deadly attack on government troops in March. Machar and seven co-accused, all members of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), challenged the court's jurisdiction, arguing that the trial is unconstitutional while Machar remains in office under the 2018 peace agreement with President Salva Kiir. The government accuses Machar and his militia of orchestrating the attack that killed over 250 soldiers, while Machar denies the charges and claims the trial aims to sideline the opposition. The trial, broadcast nationally amid heavy security, reflects deep political tensions that threaten to unravel the fragile peace deal and risk plunging South Sudan back into civil war. Despite being placed under house arrest since March, Machar remains officially vice president, and his supporters have called for armed mobilization, while observers warn of further instability if the trial escalates. The conflict between Kiir and Machar, rooted in ethnic rivalries and a history of civil war that claimed nearly 400,000 lives, continues to challenge South Sudan's fragile statehood and peace process.