South Sudan's First Vice President, Riek Machar, has been formally charged with treason, murder, and crimes against humanity. These charges are linked to violent attacks carried out in March by the ethnic militia known as the White Army against federal forces in Nasir, located in the northeastern part of the country.
The announcement of the charges on September 11, 2025, by South Sudan's Justice Minister, Joseph Geng Akech, signifies a major escalation in the nation's ongoing political and ethnic tensions. The White Army, identified as being from Machar's Nuer ethnic community, overran a Nasir base in early March, resulting in the deaths of over 250 soldiers, including a general. A United Nations helicopter was also fired upon during a subsequent rescue operation, leading to the death of a pilot. Machar has been under house arrest since March, a situation widely seen as part of a power struggle with President Salva Kiir.
The indictment includes seven senior government officials and a total of 20 individuals, with 13 still at large. Justice Minister Akech stated that these charges underscore accountability, emphasizing that perpetrators of atrocities will be held responsible regardless of their position. The allegations encompass gross violations of the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law, including desecration of corpses, persecution of civilians, and attacks on humanitarian workers.
The White Army, historically associated with Nuer youth militias, has been a recurring element in South Sudan's conflicts, often linked to inter-communal violence and cattle raiding. The charges against Machar and others are expected to further destabilize South Sudan, a nation that gained independence in 2011 but has since been plagued by internal conflict. The fragile power-sharing agreement signed in 2018, which brought Kiir and Machar together in a unity government, has been under considerable strain.
The UN has previously warned of an alarming regression in South Sudan, suggesting the country could be on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict. Concerns are high that these legal proceedings could reignite the devastating civil war that claimed an estimated 400,000 lives. Analysts suggest that the current political climate, marked by a deep-seated rift between President Kiir and Vice President Machar, highlights the persistent challenges to lasting peace and stability in the world's youngest nation. The slow implementation of the 2018 peace agreement and the postponement of national elections, now scheduled for December 2026, add to the prevailing uncertainty.
The international community is closely monitoring the situation, urging de-escalation and adherence to the peace accord to prevent further deterioration.