South Sudanese security forces have released peacebuilding minister Stephen Par Kuol, previously detained alongside allies of First Vice President Riek Machar. The arrests of key officials raised tensions, risking the fragile peace established after the civil war. Clashes in Nasir reflect ongoing ethnic violence, prompting calls from international bodies for calm cooperation among parties involved.
On Friday, South Sudan’s security forces loyal to President Salva Kiir released the peacebuilding minister, Stephen Par Kuol, following his unlawful detention. His release is important as he is a close associate of First Vice President Riek Machar, whose allies faced increased tensions after recent arrests, including those of senior officials such as the petroleum minister and a deputy military head.
The arrests, occurring between Tuesday and Thursday, posed a significant threat to the peace agreement established to end the civil conflict between the factions led by Kiir and Machar. While Minister Kuol and his aides were released early Friday, the petroleum minister and the deputy military leader remain in custody.
In addition, security forces have increased their presence around Machar’s residence; however, he successfully managed to attend his office. These recent detentions followed violent clashes in Nasir, a strategic town between the national forces and the White Army militia, primarily composed of Machar’s ethnic group, the Nuer.
The White Army had previously allied with Machar’s forces during the civil war from 2013 to 2018 against troops predominantly from the Dinka ethnic group, loyal to Kiir. The government has so far remained silent on these detentions. Information Minister Michael Makuei alleged that Machar’s forces collaborated with the White Army in attacking a military post near Nasir. Machar’s party has denied such claims.
Although South Sudan has been officially at peace since the 2018 agreement concluded years of conflict that claimed countless lives, sporadic violence continues to emerge among rival communities. On Thursday, representatives from IGAD, the United Nations, the African Union, and RJMEC convened with Machar to insist that all groups take steps to restore order, particularly in Upper Nile State, where Nasir is situated.
In conclusion, the release of peacebuilding minister Stephen Par Kuol amid heightened tensions and recent arrests of key officials indicates a precarious balance in South Sudan’s political landscape. While official peace exists post-2018, underlying ethnic tensions and clashes threaten stability. The international community’s involvement remains critical in urging all parties toward reconciliation and peace restoration in the region.
Original Source: www.straitstimes.com
