Allies Arrested Amid Clashes Between Rival Factions
South Sudanese soldiers have surrounded the residence of Vice President Riek Machar in Juba, while several of his allies have been arrested, following an attack by an armed group linked to him on a military base in the north.
The ongoing political tensions between Machar and President Salva Kiir have escalated, raising fears of renewed conflict in the country.
Machar Warned of Peace Deal Threats
Machar had previously warned that the sacking of his allies from key government positions was jeopardizing the 2018 peace deal that ended South Sudan’s five-year civil war, which claimed more than 400,000 lives.
Among those arrested is Deputy Army Chief Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, a Machar loyalist, who was detained on Tuesday following the northern clashes. On Wednesday, Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol was also taken into custody alongside his bodyguards and family. Authorities have not provided an official reason for the arrests.
Peace Agreement at Risk Amid International Concern
Machar’s SPLM-IO party has remained silent on the developments, but Water Minister Pal Mai Deng, who also serves as the party’s spokesperson, warned that Lam’s detention poses a serious threat to the fragile peace agreement.
Western diplomats have called on both parties to de-escalate tensions to prevent further violence.
Meanwhile, Ter Manyang Gatwich, Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy, has urged the immediate release of the detained individuals to prevent the situation from spiraling into full-scale war.
South Sudan Faces Delayed Elections & Unfinished Peace Deal
South Sudan is yet to fully implement the 2018 peace agreement, and elections that were originally scheduled for 2024 have been postponed by two years, citing a lack of funds.
Source: ABC