South Sudan’s Minister of Peacebuilding, Stephen Par Kuol, was arrested, following arrests of other allies of First Vice President Riek Machar. These detentions are contributing to concerns over the fragile peace agreement established in 2018, exacerbated by ongoing conflicts in Upper Nile State and recent political moves by President Salva Kiir to consolidate power.
In South Sudan, the Minister of Peacebuilding, Hon. Stephen Par Kuol, was arrested on Thursday by the National Security Service (NSS), marking yet another detention among allies of First Vice President Riek Machar. This action follows the recent arrests of the oil minister and the deputy head of the army, both key members of Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO).
The recent detentions have raised significant concerns regarding the stability of the peace agreement established in 2018 between President Salva Kiir and Machar, which concluded a five-year civil war. As tensions rise, violent confrontations have escalated in Upper Nile State, reportedly involving ongoing clashes between government forces and rebels aligned with Machar.
The United Nations has alerted the international community about increasing conflicts involving heavy weaponry and resulting casualties in Upper Nile State. In response, regional nations and Western embassies issued a collective appeal for cessation of hostilities, urging leadership in Juba to prioritize dialogue and the interests of the South Sudanese populace.
Political actions by President Kiir have also been scrutinized, with analysts suggesting these moves are aimed at consolidating his power at the expense of Machar. Recently, Kiir dismissed two other vice presidents without consultation and removed a governor affiliated with Machar’s group, exacerbating tensions within the fragile unity government.
The recent arrest of South Sudan’s Minister of Peacebuilding, along with other key officials, poses serious threats to the country’s fragile peace agreement. Escalating conflicts in Upper Nile State, coupled with political maneuvers by President Kiir, raise alarms about the future of the unity government and the stability of South Sudan. The international community’s calls for peaceful dialogue highlight the urgent need for prioritizing national interests above personal political ambitions.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
