South Sudan’s Vice President Riek Machar faces increasing tensions as military surrounds his home following the arrest of allies amid an armed group’s attack. Concerns over the 2018 peace agreement are mounting as Western officials urge calm and advocates call for the release of detainees to prevent escalation.
On Wednesday, South Sudanese soldiers positioned themselves around the residence of Vice President Riek Machar in Juba, following the arrest of several of his associates. This action coincided with a recent attack by an armed group allied with Machar on an army base in the country’s northern region. Machar previously indicated that the dismissal of some of his allies from government roles might jeopardize the 2018 peace agreement with President Salva Kiir, which had concluded a devastating five-year civil war resulting in over 400,000 fatalities.
Among those detained is General Gabriel Duop Lam, the deputy army chief who is also aligned with Machar. He was apprehended on Tuesday in connection with the northern conflict, while Machar’s ally, Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol, was arrested prior to this, along with his family and bodyguards, though no explanation for these arrests has been provided.
Neither Riek Machar nor his political faction, the SPLM-IO, has publicly addressed the recent hostilities. However, Water Minister Pal Mai Deng, a spokesperson for the SPLM-IO, expressed concern, stating that Lam’s arrest poses a substantial risk to the peace agreement. Recently, Western diplomats urged South Sudanese leaders to reduce the tension.
Ter Manyang Gatwich, the Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy, has appealed for the immediate release of the detainees, emphasizing the need to prevent the situation from escalating into extensive violence or a “full-scale war.” As South Sudan has yet to fully realize the 2018 peace accord, upcoming elections, originally scheduled for the previous year, have been postponed for two additional years due to financial constraints.
The situation in South Sudan remains tense as Vice President Riek Machar’s residence is surrounded by soldiers and several of his allies have been arrested. The potential destabilization of the 2018 peace agreement raises significant concerns about the nation’s future. Calls for de-escalation and the release of detained individuals are crucial to avoid resurgence of violent conflict. South Sudan’s political landscape is fragile, compounded by delayed elections and the unfulfilled terms of the peace deal.
Original Source: apnews.com
