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South Sudan’s fragile peace is under threat as First Vice President Riek Machar has been charged with treason, murder, and crimes against humanity. The charges stem from his alleged command of militia attacks on federal forces in March, leading President Salva Kiir to suspend him immediately. This dramatic escalation revives a bitter rivalry that fueled a devastating civil war from 2013 to 2018, which claimed about 400,000 lives. Machar, under house arrest since March, now faces a high-stakes legal battle alongside 20 others, including Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol. Observers fear the judicial process could be politicized, warning that these actions risk plunging the nation back into widespread conflict.
CNN