Recent arrests of South Sudan’s oil minister and deputy head of the armed forces have raised fears for the fragile peace deal between President Kiir and Vice-President Machar. General Gabriel Duop Lam was accused of supporting rebels, while Machar’s spokesperson stated the arrests threaten the power-sharing agreement. Concerns about military presence near Machar’s residence have increased, signalling potential unrest in the country.
In South Sudan, tensions have escalated following the arrests of key political figures, including the oil minister and the deputy head of the armed forces—both allies of Vice-President Riek Machar. General Gabriel Duop Lam, a staunch ally of Machar, was detained because of allegations of supporting rebels in the Upper Nile state. This action has raised serious concerns regarding the stability of the country’s ongoing peace agreement.
Machar’s spokesperson confirmed that General Lam’s arrest occurred after troops from the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), aligned with President Salva Kiir, surrounded Machar’s residence in the capital, Juba. This rivalry, which significantly contributed to the civil war from 2013 to 2018 resulting in over 400,000 deaths, threatens to resurface as various aspects of the peace accord, including elections, remain unfulfilled.
Pal Mai Deng, Machar’s spokesperson, criticized the arrest as a violation of the peace deal, declaring that such actions jeopardize the entire agreement between the factions. He voiced grave concerns regarding the extensive military presence around Machar’s home, which signals potential further instability.
Additionally, the arrest of Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol occurred at his residence, where members of the National Security Service executed the operation, arresting him along with family members and bodyguards. Tensions have escalated due to growing fears of unrest in Upper Nile state, exacerbated by accusations against Duop Lam and his allegiance to the White Army rebels, who share an ethnic background with him.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan has reported increased militarized conflict between the army and local youths in Upper Nile, using heavy artillery, which resulted in casualties among both civilians and armed forces. The civil conflict in South Sudan began shortly after the nation gained independence from Sudan, and the country continues to grapple with acute poverty and violence.
The recent arrests of high-ranking officials in South Sudan have resurfaced fears regarding the nation’s fragile peace agreement, which ended a devastating civil war between President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar. The government’s actions threaten to further destabilize an already precarious political landscape. With allegations of support for rebel factions intensifying and military tensions increasing, the future of peace and stability in South Sudan remains uncertain.
Original Source: www.newagebd.net
