Dr Machar appears in court for murder and treason charges|Courtesy

The long-awaited court proceeding in the case involving suspended First Vice President Dr Riek Machar and seven other senior members of the SPLM-IO has begun this morning at the Freedom Hall.

Dr. Machar, the former First Vice President of South Sudan, is standing trial alongside seven other top SPLM-IO military and political leaders.

Dr Machar and his co-accused face charges including murder, treason, conspiracy, financing terrorist acts, acts against state authorities, and crimes against humanity.

According to the indictment, as earlier stated by Kur Lual Kur, one of the lead defense lawyers, Dr Machar and his co-accused face charges including murder, treason, conspiracy, financing terrorist acts, acts against state authorities, and crimes against humanity.

The charges relate to deadly clashes in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, in March, which left an SSPDF general and hundreds of soldiers dead.