Overview

• Riek Machar, under house arrest since March, appeared before a special court with 20 co-defendants, including Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol.
• Prosecutors have charged Machar with murder, treason, and crimes against humanity linked to the Nasir clashes involving the Nuer-dominated White Army.
• President Salva Kiir suspended Machar by decree earlier this month, a move described by observers as effectively unraveling the 2018 unity government.
• Media access to proceedings has been tightly controlled, drawing calls from civil society for transparency and broader coverage beyond the state broadcaster.
• Analysts warn the case may be politically driven and could inflame Nuer–Dinka tensions, with regional monitors cautioning that the turmoil threatens preparations for the 2026 elections.