South Sudan's First Vice-President Riek Machar has been charged with murder, treason, and crimes against humanity in a move that some fear could reignite the country's civil war.
Justice Minister Joseph Geng Akech stated that the charges relate to an attack in March by a militia allegedly linked to the vice-president. Roads leading to Machar's home in the capital, Juba, have been blocked by military tanks and soldiers.
Forces loyal to Machar previously fought a five-year civil war against those supporting President Salva Kiir until a peace deal was brokered in 2018. Since the agreement, Machar has been under house arrest, with multiple international bodies, including the UN and African Union, calling for calm.
The 2018 peace deal aimed to end a conflict that claimed nearly 400,000 lives. However, tensions have resurfaced, exacerbated by ethnic animosities and intermittent violence, straining the relationship between Machar and President Kiir.
