Detention of Officials in South Sudan Raises Alarm Over Peace Agreement
South Sudan’s Petroleum Minister and several military officials associated with First Vice President Riek Machar have been arrested, jeopardizing the existing peace deal. This comes amid recent conflicts in Nasir, raising fears of renewed violence if leadership does not intervene. Calls for de-escalation from the African Union and United Nations have been issued, highlighting the fragile state of peace in South Sudan.
South Sudanese authorities have detained the Petroleum Minister, Puot Kang Chol, along with several senior military officials aligned with First Vice President Riek Machar. These arrests, confirmed by Machar’s spokesperson, Puok Both Baluang, threaten the fragile peace established by a 2018 agreement that concluded the nation’s civil war. Intense conflicts have escalated recently in the northern town of Nasir, where national forces have encountered the White Army militia, predominantly composed of Nuer fighters, Machar’s ethnic group.
The arrests include key military figures such as Gabriel Doup Lam, the deputy army chief, while other officials have reportedly been placed under house arrest. No official explanation has been provided for these detentions, according to Baluang. Meanwhile, South Sudanese troops have been deployed around Machar’s residence, although he managed to visit his office on the same day the arrests occurred.
Michael Makuei, the government’s information minister, did not respond immediately to requests for comment, indicating a press conference would occur later. This tension arises amidst a backdrop of a civil war that has claimed around 400,000 lives and displaced millions since South Sudan’s independence in 2011. Though the 2018 peace deal has largely preserved a ceasefire, localized violence remains prevalent, prompting recent calls for de-escalation by the African Union and United Nations peacekeeping forces.
Experts, such as Ter Manyang from the Center for Peace and Advocacy, have expressed concern that the country could escalate into full-scale conflict if leadership does not promptly address the situation. He remarked on the precarious nature of peace in South Sudan, underscoring the pressing necessity for decisive intervention by the nation’s top leaders.
The detainment of South Sudan’s Petroleum Minister and military leaders associated with Riek Machar poses a significant threat to the peace established in 2018 following a brutal civil war. As tensions escalate, particularly in Nasir, the potential for renewed conflict looms unless the government takes actionable steps to stabilize the situation. The dire state of affairs calls for immediate attention from the leadership to prevent a further descent into violence.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
