South Sudan’s peacebuilding minister, Stephen Par Kuol, was arrested, marking the third detainment of an ally of First Vice President Riek Machar in recent days. These arrests raise concerns over the stability of the 2018 peace agreement amid rising tensions and violence in Upper Nile State, prompting calls for peaceful dialogue from the international community.
South Sudan’s peacebuilding minister, Stephen Par Kuol, was arrested on Thursday, part of a broader crackdown on allies of First Vice President Riek Machar. His arrest was confirmed by Machar’s press secretary, Puok Both Baluang, who stated that it occurred at Kuol’s office just moments prior.
This recent detention follows the arrests of both the oil minister and the deputy army chief, also prominent members of Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO). These developments have raised alarms regarding the stability of the fragile peace agreement established in 2018, which aimed to quell the five-year civil war.
The situation in South Sudan is precarious, particularly with rising tensions manifesting as violent clashes in the Upper Nile State. The government reports ongoing confrontations between army forces and rebels aligned with Machar, while the United Nations has documented increasing violence involving heavy weaponry.
In response to the escalating violence, regional nations and Western embassies have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, urging leaders in Juba to prioritize peaceful dialogue for the benefit of the South Sudanese people.
Critics of President Salva Kiir have voiced concerns over his recent political maneuvers which appear directed at consolidating power and marginalizing Machar. Notably, Kiir dismissed two vice presidents and the governor of Western Equatoria, who represented Machar’s faction, without engaging other political stakeholders in the process.
The recent arrest of Stephen Par Kuol and ongoing detentions of allies of Riek Machar highlight escalating political tensions in South Sudan. The situation threatens the delicate peace agreement established after a lengthy civil war. Calls from the international community emphasize the necessity for dialogue and stability amid increasing violence in regions like Upper Nile State.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
