A special court in South Sudan has firmly established its jurisdiction to prosecute suspended Vice-President Riek Machar and seven co-defendants, who face grave charges including murder, treason, and crimes against humanity. The court dismissed all objections raised by Machar’s legal team, which challenged its authority, the constitutionality of the proceedings, and his claimed immunity from prosecution. The trial is set to resume on Wednesday. Machar, who has been under house arrest since March, has labeled the charges as a politically motivated ‘witch-hunt,’ sparking fears of a potential resurgence of civil war in the fragile nation. The charges stem from a March militia attack allegedly linked to Machar, which resulted in the deaths of 250 soldiers and a general. Machar’s defense argued that the case should be handled by a hybrid court under the African Union, as stipulated in the 2018 Peace Agreement that ended the five-year civil war between his forces and those loyal to President Salva Kiir. However, the court countered that it has the authority to try national offenses, as no hybrid court has yet been established. Presiding Judge James Alala emphasized that the special court’s jurisdiction is grounded in the amended 2011 Transitional Constitution. The court also rejected the claim of immunity for Machar, stating that such protection is exclusively reserved for the president. Additionally, two of Machar’s lawyers were barred from the proceedings due to invalid licenses, though they may rejoin once their credentials are renewed. Machar’s lead lawyer, Geri Raimondo Legge Lubati, accused the government of conducting a ‘politicized media campaign’ against his client, violating the constitutional presumption of innocence. The case has drawn international concern, with the UN, African Union, and neighboring countries urging calm in South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after decades of conflict.