South Sudan’s Vice President Riek Machar’s home was surrounded by military forces, resulting in the arrest of several of his allies after an armed group attacked an army base. Concerns regarding political stability and the 2018 peace agreement have heightened, with calls from international representatives for de-escalation and the release of detained officials.
On Wednesday, South Sudanese soldiers surrounded Vice President Riek Machar’s residence in Juba while arresting several of his allies, following an armed group’s takeover of a military base in northern South Sudan. This escalation highlights ongoing tensions between Machar and President Salva Kiir, which previously resulted in civil conflict.
Riek Machar has expressed concerns that the dismissal of his allies from government positions is jeopardizing the 2018 peace agreement that was pivotal in concluding a devastating five-year civil war that claimed over 400,000 lives. The vice president’s ally, Deputy Army Chief Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, was detained on Tuesday amid the heightened violence, and Minister of Petroleum, Puot Kang Chol, was arrested along with his family on Wednesday without provided rationale for the detentions.
While neither Riek Machar nor his political party, the SPLM-IO, has issued any statements regarding the violence, Pal Mai Deng, the Water Minister and party spokesperson, noted that Lam’s arrest jeopardizes the peace agreement. Moreover, Western diplomatic representatives previously called upon South Sudanese leaders to mitigate the rising tensions.
Humanitarian advocates, including Ter Manyang Gatwich from the Center for Peace and Advocacy, have urged for the immediate release of those who have been detained to prevent the potential escalation into widespread violence and conflict. South Sudan still faces significant challenges in fully realizing the 2018 peace treaty, and the elections that were planned for the previous year have been delayed by two years due to financial constraints.
The recent military actions surrounding Vice President Riek Machar’s home reflect the ongoing strife in South Sudan, as arrests of his allies threaten the fragile peace established by the 2018 agreement. International calls for de-escalation and immediate release of detainees underscore the urgent need for stability in the region. These events highlight persistent challenges facing the South Sudanese government amidst delays in implementing essential governance processes and elections.
Original Source: apnews.com
