South Sudan arrested key allies of Vice-President Riek Machar, raising alarms over the fragile peace deal established in 2018 after a civil war. Clashes in Upper Nile State between government forces and Machar’s rebels have intensified tensions, prompting calls for international intervention and restraint from global partners. Political maneuvers by President Kiir further complicate the situation, risking renewed conflict in the country.
Amid growing concerns over South Sudan’s delicate peace agreement, the authorities have detained two key allies of First Vice-President Riek Machar: Oil Minister Puot Kang Chol and Deputy Army Chief General Gabriel Duop Lam. Their arrest follows escalating tensions, particularly violent clashes in Upper Nile State involving Machar’s forces and government troops, as reported by Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth.
The situation intensified when a government garrison was reportedly overwhelmed by rebel forces linked to Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) and the ethnic Nuer group known as the White Army. Following these developments, Machar’s residence in Juba was encircled by military forces, although he was present in his office the next day, as confirmed by his spokesman.
A spokesperson for Minister Chol expressed outrage over the arrests, labeling them unjustifiable and lacking any legal grounds. The SPLM-IO later confirmed the detentions as an infringement of the fragile peace agreement that was established to end the civil war that erupted shortly after the country’s independence in 2011.
Despite the power-sharing deal signed in 2018, numerous elements of the peace agreement remain unrealized, contributing to ongoing poverty and instability. Machar’s team has called for international intervention to prevent a resurgence of violence. The United Nations has raised alarms regarding the increasing conflicts in Upper Nile State, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) expressed concern that these clashes threaten the progress made in the peace accord.
Political shifts orchestrated by President Salva Kiir, which include the dismissal of vice-presidents without broader consultation, have raised fears of Machar being sidelined. Several foreign embassies, including those of the United States and the United Kingdom, have urged immediate cessation of hostilities and called on South Sudanese leaders to prioritize national interests over personal ambitions.
As expressed by Abraham Kuol Nyuon, an associate professor at the University of Juba, the nation appears to be teetering on the brink of renewed conflict, emphasizing that without dialogue, the aggressive behavior among leaders could lead South Sudan back into chaos.
The recent arrests of allies of Vice-President Riek Machar have heightened tensions in South Sudan, jeopardizing the peace agreement established to end a devastating civil war. The ongoing violent clashes in Upper Nile State reflect the fragile nature of the current political situation, threatening progress and humanitarian conditions. Urgent calls for restraint and international intervention have emerged as the nation faces the perilous prospect of returning to full-scale violence.
Original Source: www.lemonde.fr
