South Sudan Detains Oil Minister and Military Officials: A Move Threatening Peace Stability

South Sudan has detained Oil Minister Puot Kang Chol and various military officials aligned with Vice President Riek Machar, raising concerns over the stability of the peace established since the 2018 agreement. Although no reasons for the detentions have been provided, military presence around Machar’s residence indicates heightened tensions in the country.

In a concerning development in South Sudan’s political landscape, authorities have detained Oil Minister Puot Kang Chol along with several senior military officials aligned with First Vice President Riek Machar, according to the spokesperson for the vice president. This action raises potential alarms regarding the fragile peace established by a 2018 agreement that concluded a devastating five-year civil war between President Salva Kiir and Machar, resulting in significant loss of life. Though South Sudan formally entered a phase of peace, underlying tensions between Kiir and Machar remain volatile, with frequent acts of violence between opposing factions.

Machar’s spokesperson, Puok Both Baluang, disclosed that troops have been mobilized around Machar’s residence, although the vice president managed to visit his office on the morning following the detentions. Notably, Baluang highlighted that no explanations have been given for the arrests of the officials or the rationale behind such actions. Additionally, various senior military officials affiliated with Machar have been placed under house arrest, exacerbating anxieties over the stability of the ongoing peace process in South Sudan.

The recent detentions of significant figures in South Sudan, including the oil minister and associated military officials, pose a potential threat to the country’s peace agreement. This situation accentuates the ongoing tensions between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, emphasizing the fragile nature of the peace established since 2018. The lack of clarity regarding the arrests further complicates the political landscape as South Sudan strives to maintain stability.

Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke