Arrests of South Sudan’s Oil Minister and Military Officials Heighten Tensions

South Sudan’s forces have arrested Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol and several military officials loyal to First Vice President Riek Machar, jeopardizing the peace deal that ended the civil war. The detentions come amid rising violence in the town of Nasir, prompting concerns about a possible return to war unless leadership proactively manages the situation.

In a significant move, South Sudanese forces have detained Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol and several senior military officials associated with First Vice President Riek Machar, as announced by Machar’s spokesperson. This action poses a serious threat to the fragile peace agreement that concluded the civil conflict, which has deeply impacted the nation.

The arrests occurred amidst ongoing violent clashes in Nasir, a strategic location, involving national forces and the White Army militia, predominantly comprising armed members of Machar’s Nuer ethnic group. These forces have historical ties, having fought alongside Machar during the civil war from 2013 to 2018 against President Salva Kiir’s predominantly Dinka troops.

According to spokesperson Puok Both Baluang, Minister Chol and Deputy Army Head Gabriel Doup Lam were arrested, while other military officials loyal to Machar faced house arrests. Baluang stated, “As of now, there’s not any reason provided to us that led to the arrest or the detention of (these) officials.”

In addition to the arrests, South Sudanese troops were deployed around Machar’s residence. Despite this security presence, Machar managed to commute to his office on Wednesday morning. The government’s information minister, Michael Makuei, has yet to comment on the situation but scheduled a forthcoming press conference.

The civil war in South Sudan, which erupted shortly after independence in 2011, has had devastating consequences, resulting in approximately 400,000 fatalities and displacing 2.5 million individuals. Although a peace agreement reached in 2018 has largely prevented large-scale conflict, localized violence continues.

Recent calls for de-escalation from the African Union and the United Nations emphasize the urgency of the deteriorating situation in Nasir, with warnings concerning the risk of “widespread violence”. Ter Manyang, director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy, expressed concern stating, “The country is likely to slide to war unless the situation is managed by the top leadership of the country.”

The detention of key government and military figures in South Sudan raises alarming questions regarding the stability of the peace agreement established in 2018. The juxtaposition of ongoing violence in Nasir with these arrests suggests a precarious political climate that may lead the nation back towards civil conflict. Urgent intervention and management by leadership are deemed crucial to prevent further escalation.

Original Source: www.straitstimes.com