South Sudan Vice President Machar Suspended by President, Faces Treason and Murder Charges

Juba, South Sudan — South Sudanese Vice President Riek Machar has been formally charged with treason and murder, prompting his immediate suspension by President Salva Kiir, according to a government statement released Thursday.

The charges come amid escalating tensions within the country's fragile political landscape, raising fears of renewed instability in the region. Authorities have not yet disclosed specific details of the allegations, but government officials say the charges stem from Machar’s alleged involvement in recent violent incidents that have left dozens dead.

President Kiir’s office confirmed the suspension, stating it was necessary to ensure "unimpeded judicial proceedings" and to preserve national security. Machar, a longtime rival of Kiir and a key figure in the country’s power-sharing government, has not yet responded publicly to the accusations.

Observers warn that the move could derail the peace agreement signed in 2018, which ended years of civil war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. International partners have called for restraint and due process as the legal case unfolds.

This story is developing.