Vice-president Dr Riek Machar charged with murder and treason
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John Ashworth
Sep 12, 2025, 12:22:24 AMSep 12
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1. South Sudan vice-president charged with murder and treason
BBC
11 September 2025
by Joseph Winter and Nichola Mandil
Juba
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 said the charges against Machar
relate to an attack in March by a militia allegedly linked to the
vice-president.
The roads leading to his house in the capital, Juba, have been blocked
by tanks and soldiers.
Forces loyal to Machar fought a five-year civil war against those
backing President Salva Kiir until a 2018 peace deal ending the
fighting in the world's newest country.
Machar has been under house arrest since March, with the UN, African
Union and neighbouring countries all calling for calm.
The 2018 peace deal ended the conflict that had killed nearly 400,000
people, however the relationship between Machar and Kiir has become
increasingly strained amid ethnic tensions and sporadic violence.
Seven others have been charged alongside Machar, including Petroleum
Minister Puot Kang Chol and Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt Gen Gabriel
Duop Lam, Justice Minister Joseph Geng Akech said in a statement.
They are all Machar allies who were arrested at the same time as him
and have also been in detention ever since. Another 13 suspects remain
at large, the minister said.
The March attack was carried out by the White Army militia, largely
made up of fighters from the Nuer ethnic group, the same as Machar.
They overran an army base in the north-eastern town of Nasir,
reportedly killing 250 soldiers and a general. A UN helicopter also
came under fire, leading to the death of its pilot.
"This case sends a clear message: those who commit atrocities against
the people of South Sudan, against our armed forces, and against
humanitarian personnel will be held accountable, no matter their
position or political influence," the justice minister said.
He added that as the matter was now before the courts, it should not
be subject to political or diplomatic debate until a judicial
pronouncement is made.
Machar has not commented on the allegation that he was behind the attack.
South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 following
decades of conflict.
But within two years, civil war broke out.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c07vkln2ezro
END1
2. South Sudan charges VP Machar with treason, murder over military attack
Riek Machar faces charges of alleged involvement in attacks against
federal forces.
Al Jazeera
11 Sep 2025
Riek Machar, South Sudan’s first vice president, has been charged with
murder, treason and crimes against humanity.
The charges stem from his alleged involvement in attacks by a militia
against federal forces in March, the justice minister announced on
Thursday.
South Sudan’s government claims the White Army, a loose band of armed
youths, attacked a military base in Nasir, northeastern South Sudan,
and killed more than 250 soldiers on Machar’s orders.
Seven others, including the former minister of petroleum, were charged
alongside Machar on Thursday following investigations into a suspected
rebellion plot.
“These crimes were marked by gross violations of the Geneva
Conventions and international humanitarian law, including the
desecration of corpses, persecution of civilians and attacks on
humanitarian workers,” Justice Minister Joseph Geng Akech said,
according to AFP.
Machar and President Salva Kiir have long been rivals.
Civil war broke out in oil-producing South Sudan in 2013 — less than
two years after the country gained independence from Sudan following
decades of war — after Kiir sacked Machar as vice president, accusing
him of plotting a coup.
The conflict killed an estimated 400,000 people directly and
indirectly, and forced roughly four million — one-third of the
population — from their homes before a 2018 peace deal saw the pair
form a government of national unity.
That power-sharing deal began unravelling earlier this year, when, in
response to fighting since late February in the northeastern Upper
Nile state, Kiir’s government detained several officials from Machar’s
party, including the petroleum minister and the deputy head of the
army.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/11/south-sudan-charges-vp-machar-with-treason-murder-over-military-attack
END2
______________________
John Ashworth
ashwor...@gmail.com
+254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile, WhatsApp and Signal)
PO Box 403 - 00206, Kiserian, Kenya
BBC
11 September 2025
by Joseph Winter and Nichola Mandil
Juba
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 said the charges against Machar
relate to an attack in March by a militia allegedly linked to the
vice-president.
The roads leading to his house in the capital, Juba, have been blocked
by tanks and soldiers.
Forces loyal to Machar fought a five-year civil war against those
backing President Salva Kiir until a 2018 peace deal ending the
fighting in the world's newest country.
Machar has been under house arrest since March, with the UN, African
Union and neighbouring countries all calling for calm.
The 2018 peace deal ended the conflict that had killed nearly 400,000
people, however the relationship between Machar and Kiir has become
increasingly strained amid ethnic tensions and sporadic violence.
Seven others have been charged alongside Machar, including Petroleum
Minister Puot Kang Chol and Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt Gen Gabriel
Duop Lam, Justice Minister Joseph Geng Akech said in a statement.
They are all Machar allies who were arrested at the same time as him
and have also been in detention ever since. Another 13 suspects remain
at large, the minister said.
The March attack was carried out by the White Army militia, largely
made up of fighters from the Nuer ethnic group, the same as Machar.
They overran an army base in the north-eastern town of Nasir,
reportedly killing 250 soldiers and a general. A UN helicopter also
came under fire, leading to the death of its pilot.
"This case sends a clear message: those who commit atrocities against
the people of South Sudan, against our armed forces, and against
humanitarian personnel will be held accountable, no matter their
position or political influence," the justice minister said.
He added that as the matter was now before the courts, it should not
be subject to political or diplomatic debate until a judicial
pronouncement is made.
Machar has not commented on the allegation that he was behind the attack.
South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 following
decades of conflict.
But within two years, civil war broke out.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c07vkln2ezro
END1
2. South Sudan charges VP Machar with treason, murder over military attack
Riek Machar faces charges of alleged involvement in attacks against
federal forces.
Al Jazeera
11 Sep 2025
Riek Machar, South Sudan’s first vice president, has been charged with
murder, treason and crimes against humanity.
The charges stem from his alleged involvement in attacks by a militia
against federal forces in March, the justice minister announced on
Thursday.
South Sudan’s government claims the White Army, a loose band of armed
youths, attacked a military base in Nasir, northeastern South Sudan,
and killed more than 250 soldiers on Machar’s orders.
Seven others, including the former minister of petroleum, were charged
alongside Machar on Thursday following investigations into a suspected
rebellion plot.
“These crimes were marked by gross violations of the Geneva
Conventions and international humanitarian law, including the
desecration of corpses, persecution of civilians and attacks on
humanitarian workers,” Justice Minister Joseph Geng Akech said,
according to AFP.
Machar and President Salva Kiir have long been rivals.
Civil war broke out in oil-producing South Sudan in 2013 — less than
two years after the country gained independence from Sudan following
decades of war — after Kiir sacked Machar as vice president, accusing
him of plotting a coup.
The conflict killed an estimated 400,000 people directly and
indirectly, and forced roughly four million — one-third of the
population — from their homes before a 2018 peace deal saw the pair
form a government of national unity.
That power-sharing deal began unravelling earlier this year, when, in
response to fighting since late February in the northeastern Upper
Nile state, Kiir’s government detained several officials from Machar’s
party, including the petroleum minister and the deputy head of the
army.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/11/south-sudan-charges-vp-machar-with-treason-murder-over-military-attack
END2
______________________
John Ashworth
ashwor...@gmail.com
+254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile, WhatsApp and Signal)
PO Box 403 - 00206, Kiserian, Kenya
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