A pivotal ruling has been made in South Sudan, as a special court has declared it has the authority to proceed with the trial of suspended Vice-President Riek Machar and seven co-accused. The charges they face include murder, treason, and crimes against humanity.
Machar’s legal team presented objections concerning the court’s jurisdiction, the constitutionality of the proceedings, and a claim of immunity for the Vice-President. However, the court dismissed these arguments, stating that while a hybrid court under the African Union might have been an alternative, the national court is empowered to try these offenses. The proceedings are set to continue.
Machar has vehemently denied the charges, labeling them a politically motivated “witch-hunt” and raising concerns about a potential return to civil war.
The charges were brought forward following an attack in March, allegedly linked to Machar’s militia, which resulted in the deaths of 250 soldiers and a general. Since then, Machar has been under house arrest.
The court’s decision highlights the ongoing legal and political complexities in South Sudan, a nation that gained independence in 2011. International bodies, including the UN and African Union, have urged for calm amidst these developments.
More from the BBC:
- Why fears are growing of a return of civil war to South Sudan
- South Sudan vice-president charged with murder and treason
- Refugee says national flags do not intimidate him
- Salva Kiir: The president in a cowboy hat