Arrests of Senior Officials Highlight Tensions in South Sudan’s Governance
On March 5, 2025, South Sudan’s Minister of Petroleum and several senior officials were arrested amid fears of a coup against Vice President Riek Machar. The arrests appear connected to rising ethnic conflict in Upper Nile state. Concerns are growing that these actions threaten the fragile power-sharing agreement that ended the civil war in 2018.
On March 5, 2025, several high-ranking officials in South Sudan, including three prominent politicians from the SPLM-IO party and a lieutenant general allied to Vice President Riek Machar, were arrested as tensions escalated within the power-sharing government. The arrests included Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol, who was detained at his residence in Juba along with family members and bodyguards, according to a statement from the ministry’s press secretary.
The operation was reportedly conducted by members of the National Security Service and followed the apprehension of Lieutenant General Gabriel Doup Lam by troops from the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), who surrounded Machar’s residence. A spokesperson for Machar expressed concerns that Lam’s arrest undermines the 2018 power-sharing agreement designed to maintain peace after years of civil conflict, stating it puts the entire accord at risk.
Observers have suggested that the arrests are linked to escalating violence in Upper Nile state, where ethnic Nuer rebels are clashing with government forces. The SSPDF has alleged that General Duop Lam and his predominantly Nuer troops are collaborating with these rebels. Reports from the UN Mission in South Sudan have highlighted an escalation of hostilities involving heavy weaponry in the region, resulting in casualties among both civilians and armed personnel.
The backdrop to these events includes a civil war initiated in December 2013, which resulted in approximately 400,000 deaths and displaced over 2.5 million individuals, with significant portions of the population facing starvation. Despite a peace deal reached in 2018, its full implementation remains elusive, and the political landscape continues to be unstable, with elections delayed due to financial constraints. In light of the recent arrests, President Kiir, representing the Dinka ethnic group, has asserted that South Sudan will “not go back to war.”
The arrest of senior officials in South Sudan signals a serious escalation within the fragile power-sharing government. The involvement of key figures from the SPLM-IO party amid allegations of collaboration with ethnic insurgents raises significant concerns about the stability of the current political arrangement. As South Sudan continues to grapple with the aftermath of a devastating civil war and ongoing violence, the international community remains watchful of developments that could further impact peace efforts in the region.
Original Source: www.dw.com
