The recent arrests of oil minister Gen Gabriel Doup Lam and army general Puot Kang Chol in South Sudan have raised significant concerns about the stability of the 2018 peace deal. The government has not clarified the reasons for their detention, prompting fears of renewed conflict among opposition members and allies of Vice-President Riek Machar. Warnings from international bodies emphasize the risk of escalating violence and the need for strong leadership to address the situation.
In South Sudan, the arrests of oil minister Gen Gabriel Doup Lam and army general Puot Kang Chol, both prominent figures in the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), have raised concerns regarding the nation’s fragile peace deal. These individuals are allies of Vice-President Riek Machar, who is a key opponent of President Salva Kiir.
The government has not provided explanations for the detentions, which have triggered fears that the peace agreement, established in 2018 to end a brutal civil war that devastated the nation, could be jeopardized. Despite the heightened tensions, President Kiir’s spokesperson asserted that the country would not revert to war.
Gen Lam, responsible for the military wing of the SPLA-IO, was arrested on Tuesday, while Chol was taken during the night. Reports indicate that the area surrounding Machar’s residence in Juba was temporarily occupied by troops before they retreated. Other senior military officials from Machar’s faction have been reportedly placed under house arrest.
Machar’s spokesperson expressed that Lam’s arrest violates the peace agreement, which risks destabilizing the fragile political landscape. Calls for intervention from the international community have been voiced, reflecting the urgency of the situation.
Adding to the unrest, recent reports highlight the seizure of a strategic town in Upper Nile state by the White Army militia after skirmishes with government forces. This militia previously allied with Machar during the civil war and has been accused by Kiir supporters of aiding rebel factions.
Warnings from the UN and African Union suggest that escalating violence in this area poses a potential threat to peace. Ter Manyang, from the Center for Peace and Advocacy, indicated that without proper management of these tensions by leadership, South Sudan may slide back into conflict. The country has postponed elections, now scheduled for 2026, further complicating its political stability.
The arrests of Gen Gabriel Doup Lam and Puot Kang Chol have ignited fears regarding the stability of South Sudan’s peace deal, initially agreed upon after a devastating civil war. With governmental accountability lacking and tensions escalating, the potential for renewed conflict looms unless effective intervention occurs. The ongoing political turmoil underscores the fragility of the nation’s path towards a peaceful and democratic future.
Original Source: www.bbc.co.uk