Increased Security Encircles Dr. Riek Machar’s Residence Amid…

Concerns have emerged regarding heavy armed presence around First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar’s residence, attributed to recent military actions including the arrest of Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam. This intensifies the challenge of implementing the 2018 peace agreement amidst rising tensions and violence in South Sudan. Calls for immediate de-escalation are paramount to uphold the fragile peace process.

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) has raised concerns over the increased deployment of South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) around First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar’s residence. This situation arises as challenges mount for the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), which aims to unify armed factions into a national military.

President Salva Kiir of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and Dr. Machar, the SPLM-IO leader, face significant obstacles as they strive to implement the peace agreement. The heightened security measures follow the recent arrest of Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, an officer critical to the Joint Defence Board (JDB), by Gen. Paul Nang of the SSPDF.

SPLM-IO Spokesperson Pal Mai Deng condemned this arrest, citing it as a breach of the revitalized agreement that compromises the JDB’s function in overseeing military command under the peace framework. Deng has called for the immediate release of Gen. Lam and urged de-escalation of rising tensions, particularly given ongoing violence in Nasir County.

Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), corroborated reports of increased military presence around Dr. Machar’s residence. This concerning development has caused public anxiety and threatens to derail the fragile peace process, as confirmed by several eyewitness accounts.

A senior official reported additional detained SPLM-IO officers, including Lt. Gen. Wesley Welebe, amid tensions linked to recent clashes between the SSPDF and the White Army in Nasir. This escalation follows a high-level meeting convened by the Presidency to address the growing insecurity in Nasir and neighboring regions, attended by key political figures including Dr. Machar and other vice presidents.

The situation surrounding Dr. Riek Machar’s residence underscores the escalating tensions and violence jeopardizing South Sudan’s fragile peace. The SPLM-IO has denounced recent military actions and arrests as violations of the peace agreement. The urgency for de-escalation and immediate dialogue among authorities is crucial to ensure stability and compliance with the terms designed to unify the nation’s armed groups.

Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org