Military Surrounds South Sudanese Vice President Amid Rising Tensions

South Sudan’s army has surrounded Vice President Riek Machar’s home, and multiple allies have been arrested following a military clash involving a group allied to him. The events threaten the fragile peace established in 2018 that ended a brutal civil war. Calls for the release of detainees aim to prevent further violence.

On Wednesday, South Sudanese soldiers encircled Vice President Riek Machar’s residence in Juba amid the arrest of several of his associates. The crackdown follows an incident where an armed faction allied with Machar seized control of an army base in the northern region of the country. The tensions highlight the long-standing political rivalry between Machar and President Salva Kiir, a conflict that has previously led to civil war.

Machar recently expressed concerns regarding the dismissal of some allies, warning that these actions jeopardize the fragile 2018 peace agreement that concluded a five-year civil war resulting in over 400,000 fatalities. Among those detained is Deputy Army Chief Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, a supporter of Machar, as well as Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol, who was arrested along with his family and bodyguards without given reason.

While Machar and his party, the SPLM-IO, have refrained from publicly commenting on the violence, Water Minister Pal Mai Deng, acting as the party spokesperson, indicated that Lam’s detention could endanger the overall peace accord. Furthermore, Western diplomats have recently urged South Sudanese leaders to reduce escalating tensions.

Ter Manyang Gatwich, the Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy, has urged the immediate release of the detainees to prevent the situation from intensifying into a broader conflict. Additionally, South Sudan has yet to fully realize the provisions of the 2018 peace deal; elections initially scheduled for last year have been delayed for two years due to insufficient funding.

The recent military action surrounding Vice President Riek Machar’s residence signifies rising political tensions in South Sudan, exacerbated by the arrests of his allies and the ongoing threats to the 2018 peace agreement. Concerns over potential escalations into widespread violence prompt calls for the immediate release of detained individuals. The situation remains precarious as the nation struggles to implement vital peace processes amid delays in electoral timelines.

Original Source: kstp.com