The peace agreement in South Sudan is jeopardized by the recent arrests of Lt. Gen. Gabriel Doup Lam and Oil Minister Puot Kang Chol, both allied with Vice President Riek Machar. This situation raises concerns about trust erosion and ongoing violence within the country, threatening the fragile peace established by the 2018 agreement.
The peace agreement in South Sudan is at risk due to the recent arrest of Lieutenant General Gabriel Doup Lam, a key military figure tied to First Vice President Riek Machar. The army has encircled Machar’s residence as tensions escalate in the country. Additionally, Oil Minister Puot Kang Chol, who has held his position since 2020 under a power-sharing deal, has also been arrested, apparently held in a military intelligence facility along with his relatives and bodyguards, whose communication devices were confiscated.
A spokesperson for Machar stated, “This action violates the peace agreement and paralyzes the Joint Defence Board, which oversees command and control of all forces. These measures erode trust between the parties.” The arrests add to the mounting political and security issues in South Sudan, where violence among rival factions persists despite a peace agreement established in 2018 to end a civil conflict that began in December 2013, resulting in approximately 400,000 deaths and displacing millions.
The Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), signed in 2018, has faced numerous challenges, particularly regarding the unification of armed factions necessary for forming a national army. This ongoing friction raises concerns about the potential collapse of the fragile peace framework established to resolve the long-standing conflict.
The arrest of military officer Gabriel Doup Lam and Oil Minister Puot Kang Chol poses significant threats to the stability of the peace agreement in South Sudan. These events highlight the severe political tensions that continue to undermine the processes aimed at unifying armed groups and maintaining order, pointing to a perilous situation that could derail advancements made since the 2018 treaty.
Original Source: www.fides.org
