In brief
South Sudan's First Vice-President Riek Machar has been charged with murder, treason, and crimes against humanity related to a militia attack. The situation is precarious as the tension may reignite civil war, with military presence blocking access to Machar's residence. The international community calls for calm amidst deteriorating political relations.
South Sudan's First Vice-President Riek Machar has been charged with murder, treason, and crimes against humanity in a move that some fear could reignite the country's civil war.
Justice Minister Joseph Geng Akech stated that the charges against Machar relate to an attack in March by a militia allegedly linked to the vice-president.
The access roads leading to his home in Juba are heavily fortified with tanks and soldiers, highlighting the escalating tensions surrounding this political crisis.
Forces loyal to Machar previously engaged in a five-year civil war against those supporting President Salva Kiir until a 2018 peace agreement brought a fragile cessation of hostilities.
Machar has been under house arrest since March, with the United Nations, African Union, and neighboring countries all urging for calm during this volatile time.
The 2018 peace deal is at risk as the escalating hostilities have affected the already strained relationship between Machar and Kiir, amid increasing ethnic tensions and sporadic outbreaks of violence.
