Riek Machar, South Sudan’s first vice president, has been charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity.

The charges stem from his alleged involvement in attacks by a militia against federal forces in March, the justice minister announced on Thursday.

South Sudan’s government claims the White Army, a loose band of armed youths, attacked a military base in Nasir, northeastern South Sudan, and killed more than 250 soldiers on Machar’s orders.

Seven others, including the former minister of petroleum, were charged alongside Machar on Thursday following investigations into a suspected rebellion plot.

“These crimes were marked by gross violations of the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law, including the desecration of corpses, persecution of civilians and attacks

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