South Sudan’s political crisis deepened after First Vice President Riek Machar was suspended and charged with treason, murder, and crimes against humanity. His party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), declared the transitional government illegitimate, accusing President Salva Kiir of undermining the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement and entrenching one-tribe rule.

Charges, Suspension, and Accusations

Machar’s suspension followed government allegations linking SPLM-IO leaders to militia attacks in Nasir. Officials accused him of directing the White Army, which has clashed repeatedly with government troops. SPLM-IO denied any ongoing links to the militia and dismissed the charges as a political witch-hunt aimed at sidelining Machar.

Mobilization and Opposition Strategy

The group’s acting chairman, Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, said Machar’s suspension effectively halted implementation of political and security provisions of the 2018 peace accord. SPLM-IO urged citizens to “report for National Service” and vowed to resist what it described as state capture. It also rejected court proceedings against its members, labeling the judiciary “illegal” and “incompetent,” though lawyers may continue to act on human rights grounds for detainees.

Risks to Peace and Regional Stability

The 2018 peace deal is now at serious risk as its main pillars — power sharing, security arrangements, and the promise of eventual elections — begin to unravel. SPLM-IO has already suspended participation in key security mechanisms. Violent incidents have increased, with clashes near Nasir killing dozens and displacing families. A recent U.N. report also accused South Sudan’s leadership of systematic misappropriation of state funds while much of the population faces severe food insecurity. Growing ethnic tensions, particularly between Nuer and Dinka communities, have raised fears of a wider conflict.