Juba, south sudan – South sudan's fragile political landscape has been rocked by the indictment of first vice president riek machar on charges of murder, treason, and crimes against humanity. The charges, announced on september 11, 2025, come amid renewed deadly clashes in the country's upper nile state, threatening to unravel the tenuous peace process.
A court in the capital, juba, linked machar to attacks carried out in march by the nuer white army, a militia aligned with his sudan people's liberation movement-in-opposition (SPLM-IO). This dramatic legal escalation followed a fresh wave of violence in early september, where fighters from the white army launched three separate assaults on positions held by the south sudan people's defence forces (SSPDF) near the town of nasir. According to reuters, these recent clashes resulted in at least 14 deaths, including four government soldiers and ten attackers.
The conflict in nasir first erupted on march 3, 2025, when the white army overran the town's army barracks, forcing a government retreat. The situation deteriorated further on march 7, when a united nations mission in south sudan (UNMISS) helicopter involved in an SSPDF evacuation attempt came under fire, resulting in the death of a un crew member and approximately 27 SSPDF soldiers.
The violence has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis. The united nations reported that by mid-march, at least 50,000 civilians had been displaced. By april, that number had surged to an estimated 125,000 displaced persons, with nearly 200 fatalities recorded since the fighting began.
In response to the march offensive, the south sudanese government, reportedly with air support from the uganda people's defence force, conducted airstrikes in the nasir area, which led to civilian casualties. Government forces successfully retook control of nasir on april 20. However, the september clashes demonstrate the persistent volatility in the region.
International observers have expressed grave concern over the developments. The intergovernmental authority on development (IGAD) has urged all parties to "exercise maximum restraint and prioritize dialogue." Similarly, the united nations has repeatedly called for calm and the protection of civilians, emphasizing the need to uphold existing peace agreements.
Analysts note that the nasir conflict is a symptom of a deeper, chronic political crisis in south sudan, characterized by militarized politics and unresolved power struggles. The escalating violence and the high-stakes legal battle against a key political figure like machar cast a dark shadow over prospects for peaceful elections planned for december 2026. The ongoing turmoil in nasir serves as a stark indicator that without a fundamental political resolution, the nation remains at high risk of descending into more widespread conflict.