South Sudan’s government has arrested several key allies of First Vice President Riek Machar, including Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol and Deputy Army Chief General Gabriel Duop Lam. This situation arises amidst heightened military presence around Machar’s home and concerns over the stability of the 2018 peace deal, which ended a five-year civil war. The arrests may provoke further violence within the country, prompting calls for their immediate release to avoid escalation.
In recent developments in South Sudan, several high-profile arrests linked to First Vice President Riek Machar have heightened tensions within the nation. The South Sudanese army apprehended Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol, Deputy Army Chief General Gabriel Duop Lam, and other senior military officials at Machar’s residence in Juba, further complicating the fragile peace established by the 2018 agreement.
The arrests occur amid allegations that an armed faction allied with Machar attacked an army installation in the northern Upper Nile state. This incident has provoked fears that the 2018 peace deal, which ended five years of civil war, is at risk. Machar previously voiced concern that dismissals of his allies could jeopardize the stability afforded by the agreement.
Pal Mai Deng, Water Minister and spokesperson for Machar’s SPLM-IO party, stated that Lam’s detention threatens to undermine the crucial Joint Defence Board, violating the revitalized peace agreement. Deng emphasized that the deployment of troops around Machar’s residence diminishes trust and confidence among involved parties.
Additional reports indicate that other senior military figures aligned with Machar have also been placed under house arrest, with no clear reasons provided for their detentions. Major-General Lul Ruai Koang, the army spokesperson, declined to comment, leaving the situation ambiguous.
The backdrop to these tensions includes the deadly civil war that erupted in December 2013 after Machar was dismissed, displacing over 2.5 million South Sudanese. Ongoing unrest in Upper Nile state and accusations against Lam regarding alliances with rebel forces exacerbate concerns. The United Nations has already noted escalating violence between government forces and armed groups in the region, raising alarms over civilian safety.
Ter Manyang Gatwich, Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy, has called for the immediate release of those detained, warning that further escalation could lead to a return to full-scale war in a nation already grappling with poverty and instability.
The recent arrests of key officials allied with Riek Machar underscore the fragile state of peace in South Sudan. The growing military presence around Machar’s residence and the implications of these detentions threaten to unravel the 2018 peace agreement. With a history of violence and ongoing unrest, calls for the release of those arrested aim to prevent further deterioration of the situation, highlighting the importance of dialogue in resolving tensions.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
