Riek Machar has been beneath home arrest since March [AFP via Getty Images]
A particular court docket in South Sudan has dominated that it does have the jurisdiction to prosecute suspended Vice-President Riek Machar and 7 co-accused, who’re charged with homicide, treason and crimes in opposition to humanity.
The court docket dismissed all objections by Machar’s authorized workforce relating to its authority, the constitutionality of the proceedings, and the declare that he was immune from prosecution. The case will proceed on Wednesday.
Machar has dismissed the costs introduced in opposition to him two weeks in the past as a political “witch-hunt”. They’ve raised fears of return to civil warfare.
The fees stem from an assault in March by a militia allegedly linked to Machar, which killed 250 troopers and a normal.
Since then, he has been beneath home arrest.
Machar’s defence workforce had argued that the alleged crimes shouldn’t be tried by a nationwide court docket however by a hybrid court docket beneath the African Union, in accordance with the 2018 Peace Settlement that ended the five-year civil warfare between his forces and people loyal to President Salva Kiir.
The court docket nevertheless argued that it had the authority to attempt nationwide offences, as a hybrid court docket had not but been established.
“The particular court docket enjoys jurisdiction to do this case in line with the Transitional Structure 2011 as amended,” Presiding Decide James Alala dominated.
It additionally dismissed the argument by Machar’s workforce that he had immunity from prosecution, including that the availability solely utilized to the president.
“The First Vice-President doesn’t have constitutional immunity, in line with the transitional structure,” the decide dominated.
The court docket additionally expelled two of Machar’s legal professionals after the prosecution argued that they didn’t have legitimate licences.
The presiding decide dominated that the 2 can solely take part as soon as they’ve renewed their licences.
The fees have sparked fears of renewed battle within the nation, with the UN, African Union and neighbouring international locations all calling for calm on this planet’s latest nation, which solely gained independence from Sudan in 2011 following a long time of warfare.
Extra about South Sudan from the BBC:
[Getty Images/BBC]
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