South Sudan court rejects ex-VP’s bid to halt murder and treason trial

SOUTH SUDAN: A special court in South Sudan has ruled that it does have the jurisdiction to prosecute suspended Vice-President Riek Machar and seven co-accused, who are charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity.

The court dismissed all objections by Machar’s legal team regarding its authority, the constitutionality of the proceedings, and the claim that he was immune from prosecution. The case will continue on Wednesday.

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Machar has dismissed the charges brought against him two weeks ago as a political “witch-hunt”. They have raised fears of return to civil war.

The charges stem from an attack in March by a militia allegedly linked to Machar, which killed 250 soldiers and a general.