South Sudan's First Vice President Riek Machar has been charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity for his alleged involvement in attacks by an ethnic militia against federal forces in March, the justice minister says.

The charges against Machar escalate a feud between the country's two main political camps - the other led by President Salva Kiir - which faced off in a 2013-2018 civil war in which an estimated 400,000 people died.

Machar has been under house arrest since March in connection with the attacks by the White Army militia in the northeastern town of Nasir.

International powers have repeatedly called for Machar's release, warning his detention could tip the country back into civil war.

"Evidence further reveals that the White Army operated under the command and

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