A special court in South Sudan has ruled that it has jurisdiction to prosecute former Vice President Riek Machar and seven co-accused individuals charged with murder, treason, and crimes against humanity.
Machar’s defense team had argued that the alleged crimes should be tried by a hybrid court under the African Union, as outlined in the 2018 Peace Agreement.
However, the court ruled that it has authority to try national offenses since a hybrid court has not yet been established.
The charges against Machar stem from a March attack by a militia allegedly linked to him, which killed 250 soldiers and a general.
Machar has been under house arrest since then and has dismissed the charges as a political “witch-hunt,” sparking fears of renewed conflict in the country.
The court also dismissed Machar’s claim of immunity from prosecution, stating that it only applies to the president.
The case will continue on Wednesday, with the UN, African Union, and neighboring countries calling for calm in the world’s newest country, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after decades of war.
