South Sudan’s army has surrounded Vice President Riek Machar’s home amidst the arrest of several allies following an armed group’s attack on an army base. The political tension threatens the 2018 peace deal with President Salva Kiir. Calls for de-escalation and release of detainees underscore fears of renewed conflict.
On Wednesday, South Sudanese soldiers surrounded Vice President Riek Machar’s residence in Juba, arresting several of his allies following an armed group’s takeover of a northern army base. Machar previously indicated that dismissals of his allies posed threats to the fragile 2018 peace deal with President Salva Kiir, a deal established to end a brutal civil war that resulted in over 400,000 deaths.
Among those detained was Deputy Army Chief Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, who was arrested due to the unrest in the north. Notably, the Vice President’s ally and Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol was captured along with his security detail. No explanations have been provided regarding these arrests.
Machar and his SPLM-IO party remained silent about the ongoing conflict, although Pal Mai Deng, the party’s spokesperson and Water Minister, asserted that Lam’s detention “puts the entire peace agreement at risk.” This situation has prompted calls for calm from Western diplomats urging both leaders to de-escalate.
Ter Manyang Gatwich, Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy, has advocated for the immediate release of all detainees to prevent the violence from spiraling into a “full-scale war.” Despite the urgent calls for action, South Sudan has yet to fully implement the 2018 peace accords, and elections have been delayed for two years due to financial constraints.
The South Sudanese army’s encirclement of Vice President Riek Machar’s home highlights ongoing political instability and tensions within the government. The arrests of Machar’s allies raise significant concerns regarding the integrity of the 2018 peace agreement. The call for the release of detainees indicates the potential for escalating violence if tensions are not addressed promptly.
Original Source: kstp.com
