JUBA — South Sudan’s leading opposition party, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in opposition (SPLM-IO), on Thursday rejected the charges of murder and treason against their chairman, Dr. Riek Machar, describing them as ‘illegal fabrications and politically motivated.’
Earlier last week, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs announced that Machar and his co-accused would face trial over the March 2025 incident in Nasir, following months of investigation.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit on 11 September suspended Dr. Riek Machar Teny, first vice president, after he and his key allies were charged with murder, conspiracy, terrorism, destruction of public property and military assets, and crimes against humanity.
The charges stem from a violent incident in March when a militia known as the White Army overran a garrison of government troops in Nasir County of Upper Nile, killing its commanding officer, Gen. Majur Dak, and several soldiers.
The justice ministry asserted that the attack in Nasir was influenced by Machar and others through “coordinated military and political structures.”
Machar has remained under house arrest since March, with concerns mounting for his safety since he has not appeared in public for months.
Authorities have yet to announce when his trial will begin.
Pal Mai Deng, SPLM-IO spokesperson, said the charges brought against Machar lacked any legal basis and contravened the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, to which both parties are signatories.
“As procedures of trial as well as charges against the First Vice President H. E. Dr. Riek, Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the SPLM/A (IO), are illegal, fabricated, and politically motivated,” Deng said in a statement extended to Sudans Post on Thursday.
“Unconstitutional, we entirely reject the SPLM-IG’s arraignment of him, something that the Acting Chair of the SPLM/A (IO) made publicly clear.”
He called on the African Union, IGAD, EU, Troika, UN, and others to join them in rejecting what he called the “ongoing illegal and unfair trial” of the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar.
