A South Sudanese court has confirmed it has jurisdiction to try former Vice President Riek Machar on charges of treason, rejecting his appeal to have the case dismissed.
The decision, handed down on Monday, comes ahead of the resumption of Machar’s trial on Wednesday.
The special court, tasked with examining the admissibility of the case, ruled that it was acting within its legal authority.
Machar, along with seven co-defendants, faces accusations of treason, crimes against humanity, and responsibility for the deaths of at least 250 soldiers during an attack by the Nuer militia known as the “White Army” on an army post in Upper Nile state last March.
The militia is widely regarded as an ally of Machar, who denies any involvement and has described the trial as politically motivated.
The court also dismissed defense objections, including claims of immunity from prosecution, clearing the way for proceedings to continue.
A tense atmosphere gripped the capital, Juba, on Monday, with several civil servants and private sector workers staying home amid fears of unrest ahead of the trial. Security forces maintained a visible presence in key parts of the city.
Machar’s legal troubles are deeply entwined with South Sudan’s turbulent history.
The world’s youngest nation has been mired in political and ethnic violence since Machar was accused of attempting a coup in December 2013.
Despite multiple peace agreements, including the formation of a fragile unity government in 2018, stability remains elusive in the oil-rich country of around 12 million people.
Observers warn that the trial carries the potential to inflame existing tensions in a country already struggling with fragile institutions and intercommunal divisions.
Analysts note that the proceedings will be closely watched both domestically and internationally, as a barometer of South Sudan’s commitment to justice and political accountability.
The outcome of Machar’s trial is likely to have wide-reaching implications for South Sudan’s fragile peace process, the credibility of its judicial system, and the ongoing challenge of reconciliation in a society scarred by years of civil conflict.
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