Military Surrounds South Sudan Vice President Riek Machar’s Home Amid Rising Tensions
South Sudan’s army surrounded Vice President Riek Machar’s home after his allies were arrested following an armed group attacking an army base. Concerns arose about the 2018 peace deal with President Salva Kiir. Detentions include Deputy Army Chief Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam and Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol. Calls to release the detainees emphasize the risk of escalating violence and destabilizing the peace process.
On Wednesday, South Sudanese soldiers cordoned off Vice President Riek Machar’s residence in Juba, following the arrest of several of his allies. This escalation follows an armed faction linked to Machar that seized an army base in northern South Sudan, raising concerns regarding the stability of the state. Machar has previously warned that recent dismissals of his allies could jeopardize the 2018 peace agreement with President Salva Kiir, which concluded a devastating civil war that resulted in over 400,000 fatalities.
Among those detained was Deputy Army Chief General Gabriel Duop Lam, who is aligned with Machar, arrested on Tuesday amid the northern conflict. Additionally, Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol was apprehended alongside his bodyguards and family on Wednesday. The circumstances surrounding these arrests remain unclear, as there has been no official comment from Machar or his SPLM-IO party regarding the conflict or detentions.
Water Minister Pal Mai Deng, the spokesperson for Machar’s party, expressed that Lam’s arrest “puts the entire peace agreement at risk.” In response to the rising tensions, Western diplomats urged national leaders to alleviate the situation and prevent any potential outbreak of violence. Ter Manyang Gatwich, Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy, has called for the immediate release of those detained to prevent further violence from escalating into what he termed a “full-scale war.”
The country has not yet fully enacted the provisions of the 2018 peace accord, with elections previously scheduled for last year delayed by two years citing financial constraints.
The situation in South Sudan escalated as military forces surrounded Vice President Riek Machar’s residence amid the arrest of key political figures. The fallout from recent conflicts raises serious concerns about the future of the peace agreement established in 2018. Calls for de-escalation and the release of detainees have been made to avert a return to widespread violence, highlighting the fragile political landscape in the country.
Original Source: kstp.com
