JUBA, South Sudan — South Sudan’s Vice President Riek Machar has been officially charged with murder, treason, terrorism, and crimes against humanity, following a brutal militia attack that left over 250 soldiers dead in Nasir County, Upper Nile State.
According to Justice Minister Joseph Geng Akech, the charges stem from an early March attack by the White Army, a militia group primarily from Machar’s Nuer ethnic group, which overran a military base between March 3–7.
“This case sends a clear message: those who commit atrocities against the people of South Sudan, our armed forces, and humanitarian workers will be held accountable—regardless of position or political power,” Akech stated.
The attack also resulted in the deaths of several senior military officers, including a general. A UN helicopter that attempted to evacuate troops came under fire, killing the pilot and escalating concerns within the international community.
Machar and 20 others are accused of orchestrating the assault, facing additional charges including conspiracy, destruction of public property, and violations of international humanitarian law—including desecration of corpses and attacks on aid workers.
The charges come amid the collapse of a fragile power-sharing agreement between Machar and President Salva Kiir, who has been working to consolidate power. Following the March attack, Machar was placed under house arrest, and many of his allies have been detained.
The UN has expressed alarm, warning that South Sudan is undergoing a “dangerous regression” that could undo years of fragile peace efforts. The country’s 2018 peace deal ended a five-year civil war that killed over 400,000 people, but elections have been delayed again, now pushed back from December 2024 to 2026.
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, but peace has remained elusive.
