Political situation in South Sudan

Opposition wants to overthrow the government in South Sudan

South Sudan's opposition is calling on its supporters to mobilize to overthrow the government, AFP reports.

The call comes after the fragile agreement between opposition leader Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir, which has been in place since 2018, collapsed. On Thursday, Vice President Machar was ousted and charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity.

The president accuses Machar of ordering an attack in which a militia group killed 250 government soldiers in March this year.

Machar's party denies the accusations and claims that President Kiir wants to make himself a dictator and is using violence to maintain power. 

Expert: Risk of new civil war in South Sudan

The trial of opposition leader Riek Machar in South Sudan is politically motivated. This is what former member of parliament Juol Nhomngek Daniel says, according to Africa News. He warns that the country may now be heading back towards civil war after the opposition called on supporters to mobilize and depose the president.

– The upcoming conflict will be chaotic and lead to widespread insecurity, he says.

Between 2013 and 2018, troops loyal to Machar and his rival, incumbent President Salva Kiir, fought a bloody civil war, before the two sides reached a power-sharing agreement that has held since then.

President Kiir deposed Machar last week, accusing him of, among other things, murder and crimes against humanity.