"In September, Machar and 20 co-defendants from his Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-in-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) party were indicted on charges of terrorism, treason, and crimes against humanity for their alleged role in a March attack on a military garrison that the government says killed more than 250 soldiers. Machar has denied the charges while the SPLM-IO has called the accusations baseless and politically motivated."
"As more than 1,000 people streamed into the venue to watch the proceedings which began in late September and have been open to the public several observers said they were concerned by what they saw as the government's weaponisation of the justice system to sideline President Salva Kiir's chief political rival. They warned that the trial was deepening resentment among communities that revere Machar, and risked intensifying violence already unfolding across rural swaths of the country."
Riek Machar and 20 co-defendants were indicted on terrorism, treason and crimes against humanity for an alleged March attack that the government says killed more than 250 soldiers. Machar denies the charges and his party labels the accusations baseless and politically motivated. More than 1,000 people attended open courtroom sessions amid concerns that the state is weaponising the justice system to sideline President Salva Kiir's main rival. Observers warned the trial is deepening resentment among communities that revere Machar and risks intensifying violence across rural areas. Casualty figures from past ethnic violence remain uncertain, with reports varying widely.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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