South Sudan vice-president charged with murder and treason

Vice President of South Sudan, Rick Mashr, was accused of killing, betrayal and crimes against humanity, in a move that some fear may rule the civil war in the country.

Justice Minister Joseph Jing Akic said that the charges against Machar were related to the attack in March by a militia associated with the vice president.

The roads leading to his home in the capital, Juba, were banned by tanks and soldiers.

Machar’s sincere forces fought a five -year civil war against those who support President Salva Kiir until the peace agreement in 2018 that ends fighting in the latest country in the world.

Machar has been under house arrest since March, calling on both the African Union and neighboring countries to calm.

The 2018 peace agreement ended the conflict that killed nearly 400,000 people, but the relationship between Machar and Kiir has become increasingly tense amid ethnic tensions and intermittent violence.

The March attack was carried out by the termites militia, which is largely consisting of fighters from the Nuer ethnic group, such as Machar.

They exceeded an army base in the northeastern town of Nasser, and according to what was reported, they killed 250 soldiers and generals. The United Nations helicopter was also under fire, which led to the death of its pilot.

“This issue sends a clear message: those who commit atrocities against the people of southern Sudan, against our armed forces, and against humanitarian individuals, they will be held accountable, regardless of their position or political influence,” Judicial Minister Joseph Jing Akic said in a statement.

Machar did not comment on the claim that he was behind the attack.

South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 after decades of conflict.

But within two years, the civil war erupted.

Additional reports by Nicolas Mandele from BBC in Juba