SSYR Statement on the Unfounded Allegations Against First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar
For Immediate Release
October 18, 2025 | Juba
The South Sudan Youth Reforms (SSYR) rejects the baseless and contradictory allegations made during the ongoing “Nasir Incident” trial, in which government investigators now claim that First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar instructed local Commissioners to “arrange safe passage” for government soldiers, but that those orders were allegedly misinterpreted and led to violence.
This distorted account is not only illogical but also politically motivated. Instead of proving culpability, it exposes the weakness and desperation of the prosecution’s case against Dr. Riek Machar and other accused leaders.
A Contradictory Narrative
According to the investigator’s own testimony, Dr. Riek Machar directed Commissioners to protect and facilitate safe passage for SSPDF troops. If local officials failed to implement this directive properly and violence ensued, responsibility lies not with Dr. Machar but with those who deliberately misapplied the instructions. To criminalize Machar for issuing an order of protection demonstrates the political nature of this trial.
Politicizing Justice
By twisting an instruction intended to preserve life into evidence of treason, the government is turning the court into a theatre of absurdity. This so-called evidence neither meets constitutional standards of due process nor international norms of fairness. It is designed to scapegoat political figures rather than deliver justice for the victims of the Nasir tragedy.
SSYR’s Position
- We categorically dismiss the unfounded allegations against Dr. Riek Machar as fabricated and politically engineered.
- We reaffirm that justice cannot be served through contradictory statements and manipulative prosecutions.
- We call on the judiciary to reject evidence that fails to meet basic standards of credibility and coherence.
- We urge South Sudan’s leaders to prioritize reconciliation and reform over scapegoating and political show trials.
- We appeal to international observers and guarantors of the peace process to recognize these proceedings for what they are: a weaponization of the courts against reformist leaders.
Conclusion
South Sudan’s future cannot be built on false accusations and politicized trials. The attempt to implicate Dr. Riek Machar in the Nasir Incident on the basis of contradictory testimony is an insult to the principles of justice. SSYR stands firmly against these unfounded charges and reiterates its call for accountability, fairness, and peace through dialogue—not persecution.
📌 #SSYR #RuleOfLaw #JusticeForSouthSudan #StopPoliticalTrials #PeaceThroughDialogue