Arrest of South Sudan MP Gatwech Lam Escalates Political Tensions

Gatwech Lam Puoch, a prominent SPLM-IO lawmaker from Nasir County in South Sudan, was arrested by the National Security Service in Juba, raising concerns over political tensions and stability in the country. His detention follows violent clashes in Nasir and aligns with a broader crackdown on Machar’s allies. Heightened security around Machar’s residence has also been noted amid these developments.

Gatwech Lam Puoch, an opposition lawmaker in South Sudan, was arrested in Juba on Tuesday afternoon according to several sources. He is a notable member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO) and represents Nasir County in Parliament. His detention was executed by the National Security Service (NSS) following his removal from his Thonypiny neighborhood residence, and he is currently held at the NSS detention center known as the Blue House.

Puok Both Baluang, the press secretary for First Vice President Riek Machar, confirmed the arrest but refrained from disclosing further particulars. Gatwech is a prominent figure within SPLM-IO, the party led by Machar, who holds the position of first vice president under the 2018 power-sharing agreement. The arrest occurs against a backdrop of escalating tensions between President Salva Kiir’s supporters and those aligned with Machar.

Recent violent clashes in Nasir, Upper Nile State resulted in multiple fatalities, including an SSPDF commander. The violence has led President Kiir’s administration to conduct a crackdown on Machar allies, evidenced by the detention of the petroleum minister and several senior military officers. Gatwech’s detention appears connected to his political activities, particularly a recent call for suspending SSPDF deployments in Nasir to allow community consultation prior to military action.

These events have heightened concerns over the stability of the 2018 peace agreement, which concluded a five-year civil war and established a unity government with an electoral roadmap, albeit with slow progress. In a related matter, enhanced security measures have been observed around Vice President Riek Machar’s residence, with 42 NSS officers reportedly deployed. The motivation for this increased security remains undefined, although some speculate it pertains to the burial of Majur Dak, an SSPDF commander killed in the Nasir clashes.

The arrest of Gatwech Lam Puoch highlights the ongoing political tensions in South Sudan, particularly within the context of the fragile 2018 peace agreement. As the conflict continues to evolve, with increasing violence and political suppression, the stability of the nation remains in question. Concurrently, the heightened security measures around Riek Machar’s residence underscore the volatile climate in Juba as the relationship between opposing political factions becomes increasingly strained.

Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org