Vice-president's prosecution in South Sudan stokes fears of a return to full-blown war

South Sudan's opposition and observers have warned that the prosecution of the country's suspended vice-president, Riek Machar, risks jeopardising a peace agreement that ended a devastating civil war and plunging the country into full-scale conflict again.

- Carlos Mureithi

(PETER LOUIS GUME/GETTY IMAGES)

On 11 September, Machar was charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity in connection with a deadly attack by the White Army rebel group on a government army garrison in Nasir, a town in the country's northeast. The president of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, then suspended him from his post.

The prosecution is the culmination of a series of developments this year triggered by the Nasir ambush that has escalated a longstanding feud between Kiir and Machar and raised concern for the fragile peace in South Sudan.

In March, the White Army, a group of community militias that fought alongside Machar's opposition forces during the civil war, overran a base in Nasir belonging to the country's military, the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF). The group said it had acted in self-defence.

A UN crew member and at least 27 SSPDF soldiers were killed in gunfire a few days later as a UN helicopter tried to evacuate troops from Nasir county in Upper Nile state.

The government responded by carrying out aerial bombardments in Nasir and neighbouring areas, killing and injuring civilians. Human Rights Watch accused the military of using incendiary weapons.

Authorities also arrested at least 22 political and military personnel aligned with Machar's party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), and placed Machar and his wife, Angelina Teny, under house arrest. He was accused of trying to stir up rebellion.