The SPLM-IO has expressed alarm over heavy SSPDF deployment around Dr. Riek Machar’s residence following the arrest of Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam. This situation raises concerns over the fragile peace agreement amid escalating tensions and recent violence in South Sudan. Calls for de-escalation and immediate release of detained officers have been made to prevent further destabilization.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) has raised concerns regarding the substantial deployment of South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) around the residence of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar. This situation comes amidst challenges to the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), which aims to unify armed groups under a national army.
President Salva Kiir leads the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), whereas Dr. Machar heads the SPLM-IO. The heightened security measures around Machar’s residence at J1 follow the recent arrest of Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, a prominent official involved with the Joint Defence Board (JDB) and the SSPDF.
According to SPLM-IO Spokesperson Pal Mai Deng, Gen. Lam was apprehended by Gen. Paul Nang, the Chief of Defence Forces of the SSPDF, which the SPLM-IO condemned as a breach of the revitalized agreement. This incident poses a threat to the integrity of the Joint Defence Board, which is crucial for overseeing military command under the peace deal.
The SPLM-IO has called for the immediate release of Gen. Lam and urged parties to de-escalate tensions, especially given rising violence in Nasir County, Upper Nile State. Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), confirmed that government forces, including the elite Tiger Division, have encircled Machar’s residence, causing public alarm and jeopardizing the fragile peace process.
Eyewitnesses have noted a significant rise in security personnel around Machar’s residence located in the Amarat neighborhood. The spokesperson for SSPDF, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, was unavailable for comment. Moreover, a senior official indicated that multiple SPLM-IO officers, including Gen. Lam, Lt. Gen. Wesley Welebe, have been detained due to conflicts involving SSPDF and the White Army in Nasir.
The situation surrounding Dr. Riek Machar’s residence highlights increasing tensions in South Sudan, especially following crucial arrests within the SPLM-IO ranks. As this unfolds, the potential risks to the fragile peace agreement could escalate, emphasizing the urgent need for dialogue and de-escalation among the parties involved. The international community must monitor developments closely to support the peace process in South Sudan.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
