South Sudan And the Treason Case Against Riek Machar

From War to Independence

The conflict that has led to Riek Machar’s treason charges has a long history. South Sudan was once part of Sudan. For decades the north and south fought over political power, resources, identity and religion. The first war ran from 1955 until 1972. After a brief peace, the second war broke out in 1983 and continued until 2005.

That war ended with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. It gave southern Sudan autonomy and promised a referendum. In January 2011 southerners voted almost unanimously for independence. On 9 July 2011 South Sudan became the world’s newest country. But independence did not resolve disputes. There were still disagreements over oil, borders, and weak state institutions. Ethnic mistrust also lingered.

Civil War After Independence

By December 2013 the young country was already at war with itself. President Salva Kiir accused his deputy Riek Machar of attempting a coup. Machar denied it. The disagreement turned violent. It took on ethnic lines with Kiir’s Dinka supporters and Machar’s Nuer community clashing. The war displaced millions and killed many thousands.

Peace efforts in 2015 and again in 2016 failed. Heavy fighting broke out in Juba in July 2016, forcing Machar to flee. Another deal was signed in 2018. Known as the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, it promised power sharing, unity of armed forces and elections. Both Kiir and Machar signed it. But implementation was slow and incomplete.

The Nasir Fighting In 2025

In March 2025 clashes broke out in Nasir, Upper Nile state. A Nuer militia called the White Army attacked a government base. The government said over 250 soldiers were killed. The White Army briefly took control of the base. Thousands of civilians fled. Reports of shelling and bombardment followed.

The government claimed that the White Army acted under the command or influence of Riek Machar’s movement, the SPLM in Opposition. Machar denied directing the militia. He was placed under house arrest in Juba. Other opposition figures were also detained.

The Treason Charges

On 11 September 2025 the Justice Minister Joseph Geng announced that Riek Machar was charged with treason, murder and crimes against humanity. He said evidence linked Machar to the Nasir attack. He accused him of bearing responsibility for the deaths of soldiers, mistreatment of bodies, and violations of humanitarian law including attacks on civilians and aid workers.

President Kiir suspended Machar from his role as First Vice President. Other political allies of Machar were also charged, including senior members of the SPLM in Opposition.

Reactions

Machar’s party rejected the charges. They said the government is using courts to weaken the opposition and break the peace agreement. They argued that many parts of the 2018 deal have never been implemented and that the government is not acting in good faith.

Civil society groups also raised concern. One coalition described the investigation as a sham, warning that it lacked fairness and due process. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan condemned civilian deaths in Nasir and reported tens of thousands displaced.

Impact

The 2018 peace deal rests on cooperation between Kiir and Machar. If Machar is removed through trial and conviction, it may collapse. Ethnic tensions are also a risk. Many in the Nuer community may view the charges as targeted persecution.

There is also the question of justice. If the trial is open, fair and credible, it could strengthen the rule of law. If it is seen as political, it could further weaken trust in institutions.

What Could Happen Next

The case could follow several paths. Machar might stand trial and be convicted if evidence is strong, or cleared if not. The process could stall due to political pressure. There is also the risk that the peace deal collapses, bringing the country back to large-scale war.

Mediation from neighbors and regional bodies could play a role, as they have in the past. The future depends on whether legal and political processes are handled fairly and whether all sides see a place for themselves in the state.

Finally, the charges against Riek Machar go beyond the fate of one leader. They test whether South Sudan can uphold peace and justice at the same time. The way the case is handled will show if the country can move beyond its cycles of mistrust and violence.

Sources

Statement by South Sudan’s Justice Minister Joseph Geng on 11 September 2025 announcing charges of treason, murder and crimes against humanity against Riek Machar.
Presidential decree by Salva Kiir suspending Machar from his role as First Vice President.
Government reports that over 250 soldiers were killed in the March 2025 Nasir clashes.
Denials by Riek Machar and his party, SPLM in Opposition, rejecting responsibility for the Nasir attack.
Civil society coalition statements calling the Nasir investigation unfair and politically motivated.
Reports by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan condemning civilian deaths and recording mass displacement after the Nasir clashes.
Texts of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan and its security arrangements.
The Khartoum Declaration of June 2018 committing parties to a permanent ceasefire.