JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — A treason trial against four senior South Sudan leaders opened Tuesday, as a court heard allegations the four helped plot a coup to topple President Salva Kiir.

The trial comes three months after massive violence broke out across South Sudan. Kiir has said the violence began as a coup attempt; leaders who are now in opposition to the president deny that. Regardless of the spark, the violence has killed thousands of peoples and forced hundreds of thousands from their homes.